ore so that it
could present a solid front against not only the forces opposing
it, but also another column coming up from the south, whose advance
had been inadequately covered by third reserve men. Here the Austrians
attempted to pierce the Serbian line in the extreme south and come
out at Oseshina. But though vastly outnumbered, the Serbians held
their ground stoutly until late afternoon, when, as already shown,
they were compelled to ask the division operating along Iverak for
assistance. When this help came they were able to resume their
defense.

Thus ended the second day of the general battle. On the whole the
Austrians had suffered most, but the general situation was still
somewhat in their favor. The Austrian center, along the Tzer ridges,
had been pushed back. To retrieve this setback the logical course
for the Austrian commander in chief was to curl his wings in around
the Serbian flanks. That he appreciated this necessity was obvious,
to judge from the furious onslaughts against the Serbian Third Army
in the extreme south. But to weaken the Serbian center by these
tactics it was also necessary to free the Austrians in Shabatz, or,
at least, it was necessary that they should assume a strong offensive
against the extreme right of the Serbians, and, if possible, flank
them.

But the Serbians anticipated the plans of the Austrians. Additional
reenforcements were sent to the extreme right with orders to spare
no sacrifice that would keep the Austrians inclosed within their
fortifications around Shabatz.

And true enough, next morning, August 18, 1914, shortly after the hot
summer sun had risen over the eastern ridges, the Austrians emerged
from Shabatz and attacked the Serbians. The Austrian onslaught was
furious, so furious that, step by step, the Serbians, in spite of
their reenforcements, were driven back. Fortunately toward evening
the Austrian offensive began losing its strength, and that night
the Serbians were able to intrench along a line from Leskovitz
to Mihana.

This obliged the cavalry division, which had been cooperating with
the Serbian center and was driving the Austrians toward Leshnitza,
to retire along a line from Metkovitch to Brestovatz. Naturally the
advance of the Austrians from Shabatz was endangering its right
flank. Moreover, a reenforced column of Austrians also appeared
before it. But this opposing force did not press its advance.

Meanwhile, on the same day, August 18, 1914, th