"Orderly discipline and morale within an army was the responsibility of the Division Commander."
More by Iwane Matsui
See all“The Tribunal is satisfied that Matsui knew what was happening. He did nothing, or nothing effective to abate these horrors. He did issue orders before the capture of the city enjoining propriety of conduct upon his troops and later he issued further orders to the same purport. These orders were of no effect as is now known, and as he must have known. It was pleaded in his behalf that at this time he was ill. His illness was not sufficient to prevent his conducting the military operations of his command nor to prevent his visiting the City for days while these atrocities were occurring. He was in command of the Army responsible for these happenings. He knew of them. He had the power, as he had the duty, to control his troops and to protect the unfortunate citizens of Nanking. He must be held criminally responsible for his failure to discharge this duty.”
“I am confident that the day is not far distant when the light of peace shine again.”
“Japan will not abandon the fight for the Philippines even if Tokyo should be reduced to ashes!”
“Now I am master of Shanghai.”
“There's no solution except to break the power of Chiang Kai-shek by capturing Nanking. That is what I must do.”
“The China Incident has resulted in massive loss of life through the mutual killing of neighboring friends. This is the greatest tragedy of the last one thousand years. Nevertheless this is a holy war to save the peoples of East Asia.... Invoking the power of Avalokitesvara, I pray for the bright future of East Asia.”