S/D (ATIS Translation) SATO, Yoshinao YOKOYAMA approved WAKO's recommendation to execute PWs without court martial; and on two occasions his words to Defendant were of the same effect. Up to March of last year (1946?) AKITA (a senior staff Officer who supervised Defendant and others) claimed that permission for execution without trial was granted in early May; now repudiates this, claims he stated to execute them after courts martial, although the OKI investigation revealed that courts martial were considered unnecessary. KIU incident YOKOYAMA is a man of quick decision, would immediately say, "Go ahead" and when he had something to drink would always say to Defendant "Give it to them (execution)." Because he was worried lest he cause the Emperor trouble, he said "Do not say that I ordered this." Also said that he did not order or approve the KIU incident. Defendant had decided to take full responsibility so as not to publicize disgraceful conduct of the Jap army, but such unjust to executioners and executed, since a subordinate like himself had no such authority. 20 June Incident In May or June YOKOYAMA told Defendant it was alright to carry out the execution of PWs, reiterated it about 0100 or 0200 on 20 June in the Air Defense Operations Rm. Defendant understands that FUKUSHIMA was also talking about the execution onthat day. Lt. Col. HAMADA, Chief of the Intelligence Unit, was present, is not involved, may clarify the matter. After Gen. ITO told Defendant that the Prisoners were to be executed Defendant did not transmit this to WAKO as YOKOYAMA's order since Defendant was already familiar with YOKOYAMA's intentions; he merely agreed with WAKO. After the execution, ITO reported to YOKOYAMA, and YOKOYAMA would have said something to Defendant and the others if it had not Conformed with his intentions. 12 August Incident On Defendant’s return from Tokyo 7 August he went to Army Headquarters at Yamae, reported to YOKOYAMA on the atomic and other bombings of Kyushu. YOKOYAMA replied that because of such, for revenge, it was just to execute the Prisoners. 15 August Incident On 15-17 August, Deputy C/S FUKUSHIMA assembled the participants of the 15 August execution, and said that the entire responsibility rested with him. (1st Lt. NAKAYAMA should know about this.) At the end of the war FUKUSHIMA carried 2 vials of potassium cyanide with which he decided to commit suicide in event the incident was discovered, told Defendant about his decision. Other Matters 1st Lts. MAIDA (MAEDA), AKAMINE and HASHIYAMA were enraged at the evasion of responibility on the part of superior Officers and are still hiding. When Tait called for them MAEDA stopped in the Demobilization Office and said that AKAMINE and HASHIYAMA would probably come later and to tell them that MAIDA (MAEDA) will not do anything cowardly. SATO, Yoshinao List Defendant brought back from Tokyo in January or February 1946 (Identified to Hagen 18 September 1947) (ATIS translation): Defendant identifies list as one he brought back from Tokyo in January or February 1946, was copied at Fukuoka Demobilization Office from original of a false report which stated that these men had died in an airraid, the original turned over to a certain army civilian of the Demobilization Office in May 1946, can’t account for it. Defendant compared this list with original, accurate. Names Date of Capture Vuraumu, Billy, Sgt 2 May Wicks, Wm. Fred, 2nd Lt. 5 May Puranbekku, Dale, 2nd Lt. " Rorakka, T , Sgt. " Shikorehoa, John, Cpl. " William, Robert B, Cpl. 6 May Xuznek, Leon E., Cpl. 24 May Berry, Jack M., 2nd Lt. 5 May Dengler, Jack, Sgt. " Cox, Irving Atwood, Cpl. 6 May Calvin, Muran, Pvt. 5 May Furesshu, Edgar L. Mackwell, M/Sgt. 7 May Roraaines, Ralph S., Sgt. " Baumgarten, Otto W., Sgt. " Asupinaru, Robert J., M/Sgt. " Palmer, Charles, Sgt. 28 May Watkins |