Page 67 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

Answer: All the methods of employing bacteriological weapons put in commission in the
Kwantung Army were sanctioned before my. appointment to the post of Commanderin-Chief
of the Kwantung Army. I myself regarded the spraying of bacteria from aircraft as the most
effective method, since it made it possible to infect larger areas.

Question: What type of aircraft had been chosen for the employment of bacteriological
weapons?

Answer: In peacetime, Detachment 731 had several special aeroplanes at its disposal. In
wartime, if it were necessary, the aircraft of any air unit could have been used after they had
been equipped with the necessary appliances.

Question: In what concrete way did you as Commander-inChief take part in directing the
preparations for conducting bacteriological warfare?

Answer: I have already stated that all the methods of employing the bacteriological
weapons at the disposal of the Kwantung Army had been examined and sanctioned by the
Japanese General Staff before I was appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief. These
methods remained in force while I was in command. Furthermore, through the divisions and
administrations under my command, and in conformity with the orders of the Japanese
Ministry for War and General Staff, I, as Commander-in-Chief, exercised direction of the
activities of bacteriological detachments 731 and 100 in devising and producing
bacteriological weapons. My function as Commander-in-Chief also included the exercise of
tactical direction of the employment of means of bacteriological warfare in wartime. In this
respect, it would have been my function in the event of war to determine what formations
were to employ bacteriological weapons, and in what direction.

For the purpose of carrying out a bacteriological attack commanders of fronts and separate
armies were to have had at their disposal special bacteriological detachments which were to
have been formed on the basis of detachments 731 and 100 and their branches. . . .

. . . Question: What, concretely, did you do to increase the output of bacteriological
weapons in conformity with the instructions of the Ministry for War?

Answer: As I have stated already, in conformity with the orders issued by the Deputy
Minister for War, I sanctioned the increase in the output of bacteriological weapons within
the limits of the orders received from the Ministry for War. I do not remember, however, how
much the output was increased. . . .

. . . Question: From whom was the decision to employ bacteriological weapons to have
come?

Answer: The order to employ bacteriological weapons was to have come from the Imperial
Headquarters.. ..

Yamada

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