Page 9 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

The preliminary investigation has established, and the experts have confirmed, that these
huge masses of disease microbes, among them plague, cholera, typhoid, and other germs,
were all intended for the manufacture of bacteriological weapons for the mass extermination
of human beings.

Detachment 731 and its branches also engaged in the wholesale breeding of fleas for their
infection with germs. For the breeding and infection of the fleas—rats, mice and other
rodents were used, these being procured not only by the personnel of the bacteriological
units, but also by special squads detailed from line troops of the Kwantung Army.

The scale on which fleas were bred may be deduced from the fact that Detachment 731
possessed 4,500 incubators for the breeding of fleas on rodents.

The output capacity of these incubators made it possible, as testified by the accused, to
obtain in very short periods whole kilograms of plague-infected fleas, this being equivalent,
according to calculations made by the experts, to many tens of millions of such parasites,
which were exclusively intended for use as a bacteriological weapon.

The scale of work in the breeding of fleas is also indicated by the fact, attested by witness
Morita, that a single branch— Branch 543, in Hailar—in the summer of 1945 had about
13,000 rats at one time. (Vol. 2, p. 239.)

The preliminary investigation has established that similar preparations for bacteriological
warfare were carried on in Central and South China by Japanese bacteriological detachments
designated by the code names "Nami" and "Ei," which in 1941-43 were commanded by the
accused Major General of the Medical Service Sato.

The accused Sato has himself admitted that Detachment Ei possessed high-capacity
equipment for the breeding of germs for bacteriological warfare.

The medicolegal experts state in their findings that the scale of the productive capacity of
detachments 731 and 100, and the character of their activities, were designed for the active
prosecution of bacteriological warfare. (Vol. 9, p. 155.)

The accused Yamada testified that the Japanese Army ". . . approved and adopted three
basic methods of employing bacteriological weapons, namely, spraying of germs from
aircraft, dropping of bacteria bombs and, lastly, sabotage. ..." (Vol. 18, p. 131.) According to
the plans of the Japanese imperialists, specially equipped aircraft, specially trained army
units, and sabotage squads were to disseminate large quantities of lethal germs of plague,
cholera, typhoid, glanders, anthrax and other severe infectious diseases along the adversary's
front and in his rear, contaminating inhabited localities, wells and other water sources, crops
and cattle by every possible means. Counting on the capacity of these lethal bacteria for
multiplying rapidly, the Japanese imperialists in their villainous plans intended to cause
plague, cholera and other epidemics among the troops and the civilian population, which
were to result in dreadful pestilences and the painful death of millions of people. They were
prepared to employ this inhuman weapon, which constitutes a terrible menace to the
population not only of belligerent states, but also of neutral countries.

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