Page 77 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

of Jurisprudence ANTONOV for Internal Affairs

for the Khabarovsk Territory Captain SEROV

Interpreter PROTASOV

EXCERPT FROM RECORD OF INTERROGATION
OF TAKAHASHI TAKAATSU

November 21, 1949 City of Khabarovsk

Question: What decisions were taken about ways and means of waging bacteriological
warfare in the light of the data on bacteriological reconnoitring against the U.S.S.R.
submitted by Hirazakura's group?

Answer: Wakamatsu, Hosaka and Ida were present when Lieutenant Hirazakura made his
report. I do not remember who of those present voiced his opinions concerning the quantity
of pathogenes of anthrax, glanders, cattle plague and sheep plague required to infect the
district in which Hirazakura's group conducted bacteriological reconnoitring.

Everything was to be carried out during hostilities between the Soviet Union and Japan. On
that same occasion ways and means of employing bacteriological weapons against the Soviet
Union were discussed. We outlined methods of infecting livestock: cattle was to be infected
with anthrax and cattle plague with the use of aircraft. It was also intended to infect livestock
belonging to the local population and which was grazing in nomadic pasturages.

Horses were to be infected with anthrax by using aircraft.

Since the epizootic spread of glanders involves big difficulties we decided to infect horses
only with anthrax. . . . The sheep which Hirazakura's group purchased were to be infected by
inoculation with the pathogene of sheep plague and let loose for the purpose of sabotage
against the Soviet Union. The cattle purchased was also to be infected, by inoculation with
the virus of cattle plague.

The infected cattle, sheep and horses were to be loosed in various directions with the aim
of their landing on the territory of the military operations of the Soviet troops. Owing to the
long lapse of time I cannot recall the details of all the measures we then outlined.

Question: Did you report to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army on the
measures outlined?

Answer: Yes, I did. In particular, I reported to General Yamada.

Question: When and what did you report to him?

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