Page 97 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

disposal were to be put soldiers who had gone through special training back in peacetime. In
peacetime these soldiers were recruited from various units of the Japanese Army and sent to
attend courses of study in detachments 731 and 100, where, together with medical training,
they went through special training and acquired the necessary skill in bacteriology. The most
loyal soldiers were selected for these courses, but the technique of the selection I do not
know. Upon completion of the courses, in peacetime they were sent either to the branches or
else to prophylaxis and water supply detachments, in units and formations of the Japanese
Army. In wartime they were to be used for employing the bacteriological weapon.

I do not know the total number of such cadres trained by detachments 731 and 100.

Question: What rules and instructions existed for the employment of bacteriological
weapons?

Answer: There were no such instructions for general use. I think there were provisional
instructions and rules which were worked out in detachments 731 and 100 and were used in
training cadres. Who approved them I do not know. These questions did not come within my
competence.

Question: Who sent out a special group of Detachment 100 in 1944-45 to carry out
bacteriological reconnoitring in the districts of North Khingan Province bordering on the
Soviet Union?

Answer: In my presence, in 1944 or perhaps in 1945, Chief of the Veterinary
Administration Takahashi reported either to Commander of the Kwantung Army Yamada or
to Chief of Staff Kasahara Yukio about the work of a group from Detachment 100 in districts
of North Khingan Province. Takahashi reported that Detachment 100 was carrying out
reconnaissance in districts of North Khingan Province to determine the possibility of
employing bacteriological weapons in these districts to infect livestock, pastures and water
sources. I remember that in the report Takahashi offered his suggestions for the practical
employment of germs. I recollect that he voiced suggestions about the necessity, in case of
need, of infecting fodder and water sources in the vicinity of Hailar and the districts southeast
of Lake Dalai-Nor.

In the Kwantung Army Headquarters, the work of Detachment 100 in carrying out
sabotage measures was supervised by the Intelligence Division of the Kwantung Army
Headquarters.

Question: Did you ever make a report concerning employment of the Ishii bacteria bomb?

Answer: Yes. In the autumn of 1944, approximately the month of November, at
instructions from the Chief of Staff I made a report on the action of the Ishii bacteria bomb.

Ishii's written report on this question had reached headquarters before Yamada took up the
post of Commanderin-Chief. Hence, when Yamada came I made an oral report at Kasahara's
instructions. I made this report at headquarters. Present at the report were: Yamada, Kasahara,
Assistant Chief of Staff Ikeda, and Miyata. On the basis of my report Yamada endorsed this

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