THE WEST FRONT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT.

AMERICAN OFFICERS' REPORT

GERMAN LINE PRACTICALLY

IMPREGNABLE.

Avstralian and N.Z. Cabin Association (Received July 26, 8.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 25.

The "World's" Washington correspondent states that nine. American officers who inspected the west front, and who had returned, submitted an official report, stating that the. German line is practically impregnable unless tremendous assistance is received from the United States. They saw no evidence that Germany's backbone had been broken by internal dissension or food shortage.

THE BATTLE ON THE COAST.

SPLENDID ENERGY OF BRITISH

\fstralian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Received Julv 26, noon.) PARIS, July 25.

•/lie "Matins" correspondent on the British front eulogises the extraordinary energy with which the British in the Lombaertzyde region finally got the upper hand of an adversary nearly tenfold their strength. Thrice the Germans blew up the Nieuport bridges and thrice under a withering fire the British engineers restored and finally held them. One general dashed forward with three battalions and the order was given to smash the enemy's assaults or die on the spot. Meanwhile n colonel in Nieuport gathered a number of pioneers, cooks, stretcher-bearers, and electrified by his speech this improvised body rushed to the weak points and strengthened the regular battalions. All showed British mettle and initiative in the most critical moments. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association .nd Router. (Received Julv 26, noon.) LONDON. July 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports raids eastward and north-eastward of Ypres. The enemy's artllerv is active eastward of Monchy and in the neighbourhood of Lombaertzyde. FRENCH AGAIN VICTORIOUS. GERMAN ATTACKS COMPLETELY REPULSED. CRAONXE GAINS CONSOLIDATED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 25, 3 p.m. A French official reports states:— Yesterday, after violent artillery preparation, the Germans atta-cked the positions we captured on the California Plateau. They were oompl'etely repulsed. Our previous day's gains are maintained and consolidated. GERMAN REPORTS. . Auitralian and N.Z. Cable Association and IWuter. (R-eceived July 26, 2 p.m.) PARIS, July 25. Tha artillery battle on the British front, if the German accounts can be believed, for Sir Douglas Haig does not mention it. is assuming gigantic proportions to an unexampled degree. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Pouter. (Received July 26, 1 p.m.) LONDON. July 25. A wireless German official message says:— Powerful artillery fire continues in Flanders. We drove back repeated English thrusts. Strong French attacks, supported by a fresh -division, failed at Crayons- J