would create a diversion which
would give the Serbians time to adapt themselves to the changed
conditions, though the chances were very largely in favor of his losing
his life on this mission. Permission was granted. Calling on volunteers
from his command, he advanced with his single cannon and took up a
position in the path of the approaching enemy. The moment he opened fire
the Austrians, naturally not realizing that only one cannon was opposing
them, and believing that a large Serbian force had surprised them, broke
into a panic. Half an hour after he had opened fire, the Serbian field
commander sent a messenger to Major Djukitch, ordering him to retire. In
reply he sent a message to the commander, describing the confusion he
had created in the Austrian ranks, and instead of retiring, he asked for
reenforcements. The balance of his own battery, a detachment of
infantry, and a cavalry division was sent him. The result was that the
Austrian column was temporarily driven back into the mountains. Hastily
re-forming, the Austrians now massed along a line extending from
Belikamen to Radlovatz, while the Serbians deployed along a front
running from Slatina through Metkovitch to Gusingrob.

At 11 a. m., August 16, 1914, the two opposing forces opened fire in
earnest, up and down the line. All day the cannon roared and the rifles
and machine guns crackled; now and again the Austrians would shoot forth
from their line a sharp infantry attack, but these were repulsed, with
more and more difficulty as the day advanced, for the Serbians were much
inferior in numbers. Toward evening their situation became very
critical. Yet every part of the line held out desperately, knowing that
reenforcements were being hurried forward from the rear as fast as men
could move.

And just before dark, along the roads from the eastward, came the
distant cheers from the advancing columns. An officer dashed up on
horseback shouting encouragement to the battered men in the trenches. A
cheer arose, which rolled up and down the line. Again it rose, then,
even before it had died out, with wild yells the Serbians sprang over
their breastworks and swept madly across the intervening space to the
Austrian lines; smashing through cornfields, over rocks, through the
tall grass of orchards. At their heels followed the reenforcing
soldiers, though they had that day marched nearly sixty miles. Over the
Austrian breastworks they surged, like an angry wave from th