ntered another force
of the enemy, consisting of one regiment and two batteries, and, after a
short skirmish, drove it back and occupied the two villages, Kupinovo
and Progar. Thus the Serbian operations in this section fared well.

But at another point, on the extreme left, at Mitrovitza, they did not
encounter such good fortune. The division operating here was to occupy
and fortify Mitrovitza and with it a bridge, after which it was to
advance and worry the enemy's flank. The actual point chosen for the
construction of the bridge was a customs station at Jasenova Grada,
between Mitrovitza and Jarak.

The column here had arrived at the river bank at midnight of September
5, 1914, and at early dawn had begun building the pontoon bridge.
Meanwhile a steady artillery and rifle fire was kept up, sweeping the
opposite bank, to keep back the enemy. The Serbian commander of this
force had received instructions to the effect that as soon as he had
moved his troops across safely, he was to send two regiments forward:
one to the right, the other to the left, and the whole line was to
advance and cover the territory between Mangjeloskabara and Shashinshi,
the object being to push back any movement of the Austrians from Jarak.

As at Novoselo, an advance guard crossed in barges before the bridge had
been thrown across. Immediately a heavy fire began from the enemy,
hidden in the opposite forest. Many of the Serbians threw themselves
into the river, and either swam or waded the rest of their way across.

Finally three barge loads had effected a crossing. While waiting for the
rest to follow, sixty of the Serbians threw themselves over against the
Austrians and, by their very boldness, drove them out of their trenches
and took twenty prisoners.

Some delay in the building of the bridge followed, but more barge loads
of soldiers were sent across, and the fighting with the Austrians was
pushed vigorously. But meanwhile the enemy was also being reenforced,
more rapidly for not having a river behind him. By evening the Serbians,
who had crossed, found themselves tremendously outnumbered and fighting
on the defensive. At that time, one of the Serbian Regiments, which had
advanced as far as Shashinshi, found itself isolated, with both flanks
exposed.

After two hours of stubborn fighting the regiment managed to draw back
to the river bank, carrying with them a mass of wounded comrades, hoping
there to find the support of the main bo