stationed at the other points to come
up to support. Here was the great advantage that the Austrians
had to begin with; an advantage which the attacking army always
enjoys. The attacking general alone knows where the first battle
shall be fought.

The Serbians, therefore, could not count on meeting the Austrians in
full force before they could enter Serbian territory. They realized
that they must give way at the first contact; that the Austrians would
undoubtedly advance quite some distance within Serbian territory
before enough Serbian forces could be brought up against them to
make the opposition effective.

Realizing this, it was decided to place fairly strong advance guards
at all probable points of invasion with orders to resist as long
as possible; until, in fact, defensive tactics could be adapted
to the situation and the main Serbian army could be brought up
to offer battle.

However, two points stood out as the most probable. These were the two
already mentioned; the north, along the line from Obrenovatz to Belgrade
and to Semendria; or, the front Obrenovatz-Ratza-Losnitza-Liubovia.
The first possibility had the advantage to the Austrians of offering
the shortest route to the center of the country--the Morava Valley,
their natural objective. But it also necessitated a difficult crossing
of the Danube, which would have had to be preceded by the building
of pontoon bridges. This would have given the Serbians time to move
up their main forces. The second alternative, an invasion from
the east, would have entailed a longer journey, but the advantage
of natural covering and easy crossing made it a sounder plan.

On July 28, 1914, the Serbians concentrated their forces in anticipation
of either event. The outpost forces were stationed at or near Losnitza,
Shabatz, Obrenovatz, Belgrade, Semendria, Pozarevatz and Gradishte.
But their principal armies were centrally grouped along the line
Palanka-Arangelovatz-Lazarevatz, while weaker, though important,
detachments were stationed in the vicinity of Valievo, a branch
railroad terminus, and Uzitze. This narrowed the field down to
such limits that it was possible to march the troops from point
to point, while the few railway facilities available were utilized
for food and ammunition supplies.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XLVIII

AUSTRIAN SUCCESSES

On the morning of July 29, 1914, the day after war had been declared,
the residents of Belg