isen 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, the Austrians were
reenforcing their position on the Tzer ridges. They had also strongly
fortified the height of Rashulatcha, which lay between the heights of
Tzer and Iverak, whence they could direct an artillery fire to either
field of activities.

But the difficulties which the Serbians operating along the Iverak
ridges were meeting also hampered the Serbians who were attempting to
sweep the Austrians back along the Tzer ridges. If they advanced too far
they would expose their flank to the Austrians over on Iverak. As a
general rule, it is always dangerous for any body of troops to advance
any distance beyond the general line of the whole front, and this case
was no exception. However, though delayed, this division did advance.
Oxen were employed in dragging the heavy field pieces along the trails
over the rocky ridges.

With savage yells the Serbian soldiers leaped over the rocks, up the
jagged slopes of Kosaningrad. Again they had fallen back on their
favorite weapons, bayonets and hand bombs. The Austrians put up a stout
resistance, but finally their gray lines broke, then scattered down the
slopes, followed by the pursuing Serbians. Having gained possession of
Kosaningrad Peak, the Serbian commander next turned his attention to
Rashulatcha, which, in conjunction with the Serbians over on Iverak,
could now be raked by a cross artillery fire. He had previously left a
reserve force behind at Troyan. This he now ordered to reenforce his
left, which had been advancing along the southern slopes of the Tzer
range. This force he now directed against the heights, but the movement
was not vigorously follo