een reported
approaching from the south, moving on Krupanie, and that it had
seemed so insignificant that a small detachment of third reserve
troops had been sent to hold it back. But this enemy force now
developed into three mountain brigades.

Reenforcements of infantry and mountain artillery were hurried
down to support the retaining force, but the Austrians were able to
force their way on toward Zavlaka. Seeing Valievo thus threatened,
the Serbians retired from their position at Jarebitze and took up
a new position along a line from Marianovitche to Schumer, thus
enabling them to face both the enemy columns. This retreat was
fortunately not interfered with by the Austrians, though in executing
it the Serbian artillery, which had been in position on the right
bank of the Jadar, was obliged to pass along the Austrian front
in single file, in order to gain the main road.

Early the next morning, August 17, 1914, the Serbians were in position
and had extended their line to Soldatovitcha, whence the detachment
from Krupanie had retired. Summing up the day's fighting, and
considering it as a whole, it will be seen that the Austrians had
pretty well held their own, except on their extreme left, where
they had failed to get in touch with their forces in Shabatz.

After the defeat of the Austrians at Belikamen on August 16, 1914,
the cavalry division was reenforced by some infantry and artillery,
then sent on the delicate mission of driving a wedge in between
the Austrians in Shabatz and those along the Drina. Spreading out
across the Matchva plain, its left wing up against the slopes of
the Tzer Mountains, and its right wing within reach of Shabatz,
it advanced as far as Dublje in the north. At the same time it
was able to assist the column advancing along the Tzer ridges by
playing its artillery on the Austrian position in the mountains at
Troyan. Throughout all the fighting this cavalry division rendered
notable service by its dismounted action.

On the morning of August 17, 1914, the extreme right of the Serbian
front now turned toward Shabatz. Though only half the number of the
forces they were proceeding to engage, they continued onward. But
on closer approach it became apparent that they could do nothing more
than hold the Austrians inside the town. So well and so thoroughly
had the Austrians fortified themselves that it was hopeless for
so small a force to attempt an attack. Thus this section of the
Serbian fro