proceeded to occupy the two mountain chains in
question, that they vastly misjudged the capacity of the Serbian
troops to make rapid movements. Even as the first shots were being
fired across the Drina at Losnitza, the Serbian forces were on
the move, westward. Two army corps were at once rushed toward the
Valley of the Jadar; part of a third was sent to block the advance
of the Austrians from Shabatz. Meanwhile the Austrians took their
time. For two days they busied themselves fortifying the bridge
at Losnitza.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XLIX

THE GREAT BATTLES BEGIN

On August 14, 1914, began the first battle of the Serbian campaign.
The Austrians proceeded to storm the heights from which the small
outpost detachments had all the time been bombarding them with
its old-fashioned guns. The Serbians, though few in number, made
a desperate resistance. It was their business to hold back the
enemy as long as possible, even until the reenforcements should
arrive.

Early in the morning of August 14, 1914, the Austrians advanced
in a great mass, then charged up the hillsides toward the Serbian
position. The Serbians waited until they were well up the steep
slopes and the rush of the enemy had subsided to a more toilsome
climb. Then they sent down volley after volley from every available
weapon.

The Austrian soldiers, who had until then never experienced anything
more warlike than field maneuvers, lost their nerves; the first
line broke and ran at the first fire. However, that was likely
to happen to any troops under fire for the first time. Down in
the plain they formed again, and again they swept up the slopes.
This time they did not turn at the first volley. On they came,
with fixed bayonets. And presently the first line reached the top
of the heights, and the fighting was hand-to-hand. For a moment the
Serbians, overwhelmed by numbers, were on the point of fleeing. But
these same men had been through many a hand-to-hand encounter with
both Turks and Bulgars; that experience stood them in good stead.
And again they swept back the attacking masses of Austria-Hungary.

By evening, August 14, 1914, the Austrians had not yet taken the
heights. But the Serbians, most of them middle-aged and old men,
had spent their vitality. As the dark night lowered over the scene,
they fell back, until, at Jarebitze, they met the first advance
guards of the oncoming Serbian main army. And here they halted,