Page 78 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

Answer: In November or December 1944 General Yamada summoned me and asked for a
report on the plan of bacteriological sabotage against the Soviet Union with the use of
aircraft. Basing myself on the bacteriological reconnoitring data received from Lieutenant
Hirazakura, in the presence of General Kasahara and General Ikeda I reported to General
Yamada my plan for bacteriological sabotage, which we subsequently discussed in March
1945 in my office, with Hirazakura present. Commander-in-Chief Yamada endorsed this
plan.

I reported the plan in general outlines. The technical part of the plan I did not report. . . .

Takahashi

INTERROGATOR

Member of the staff

of the Office of the Ministry

for Internal Affairs

for the Khabarovsk Territory;

Captain SEROV Interpreter PROTASOV

EXCERPT FROM RECORD OF INTERROGATION
OF KAWASHIMA KIYOSHI

October 21, 1949 City of Khabarovsk

Question: What do you know about the origin of Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army
and what were the reasons for its formation?

Answer: Detachment 731 was formed in 1936 by a secret decree of Emperor Hirohito of
Japan. Originally the detachment was to be quartered in the city of Harbin, and by an order of
the Japanese Minister for War, Colonel Ishii Shiro of the Medical Service was appointed
Chief of Detachment 731.

I myself saw the decree of the Emperor of Japan in the detachment's files during my work
as Chief of the General Division of Detachment 731, but I cannot now reproduce its
appearance or detailed content since a considerable period of time has elapsed since then.

Immediately after the detachment was formed it received the official name of "The Water
Supply and Prophylaxis Administration of the Kwantung Army" and nominally occupied

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