Tokyo, Mar. 26.
Imperial sanction was obtained! this afternoon to carry out the 3econd withdrawal of troops. from Shanghai to Japan and General] Shirakawa has been instructed ae~ cordingly.
Details cannot be obtained, but it ig believed that the troops to. be withdrawn comprise engineering, commissariat and other special units originally despatched ax army Sniping -on Increase Charges that 23 different attacks! have been made by Chinese snipers: for "plain-clothes"—soldiers [patrols and outposts of the Japan-fosse forces around Shanginsi since the termination of active Sinopanese hostilities here on March placed before the' Commis inquiry of the League of ations previous to its departure morning from this city' for Nanking. 'The same allegations also were used by the Japanese mili tary delegates yesterday' to support their demands in the present peace pourparlers that the Chinese Army' Jeeaye these tactics, In the various attacks charged, three Japanese soldiers were killed Joutright and 14 others were wound-fed, while three Japanese merchant seamen who disappeared at Woosung are believed to have fallen victims to. similar "gunmen, the official Japanese statement avers.
Staiting the first day. after the cessation of the fighting in the territory around Shanghai, these sui ing operations have continued with-interruption until the present the Japanese allege, with the attacks increasing in number during. the past week. Not only is the front line affected, according to the: charges, but snipers have their way into the very centres of the Japanese positions where they} have attempted to assassinate officers of high rank. he mong points at which these incidents foecurred, the Japanese ist Tang hen," Kating, Lieuho-chen, Nanaiang, Wangdo Station, Woo: Sung, Lotienchen, Kiangwan-chen and Chapei Ranging from isolated shots by individual snipers to" apparently well-organised efforts by small defichments, these attacks have included regular pitched engagements, bombing attempts and hand grenade attacks, the oficial Japanese report details" On one occasion the Brigalace-General commanding the 27th, Infantry Brigade was the victim of Jan attempt while inspecting outposts at Nanziang, the statement Tolates, a group of snipers hiding -ambush and' opening' fire as he ode past. This officer escaped: une wounded, although his horse was shot from under him.
Another instance cited was an attack by & large detachment of gunmen in civilian clothes. on. the apanese munition stores at, Liuho. 'Using hand-grenades and rifles, the attacking party endeavoured to rush the storehouse and only were dri back after "a sharp. skirmish, in which one of the gunmen was' lett Hiead om the feld,. The, Wentsopang Railway Wharf base of the Japan ese at Woosung alto. vas the scene! fof another bold daylight attempt on fpnition stores, the charges con-Hine, finally defeated when the Chinese "detachment of "plain-flatlies" men was driven into an empty house and wiped out man.
addition to the military casualties, the Japanese called attention to the disappearance of three Japan-fosse merchant seamen, who are be-leved to have fallen victims to Chi-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.