World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Balkan Peninsula
From the moment the Serbian Army took up its position in Macedonia its
front extended from the eastern arm of the Cerna to the neighbourhood
of Nonte. Divided after its reorganization into 3 armies, these were
as we have seen, in consequence of the reduction of the effectives,
reduced to 2 of 3 divisions each, plus the cavalry division. The I Army
(Drina, Morava and Timok Divisions) commanded by Voivod Michich, had
its H.Q. at Votchtaran and occupied the western sector; the II (Vardar,
Danube and Shumadia Divisions), commanded by Voivod Stepanovich,
occupied the eastern sector, with its H.Q. at Dragomantzi. Although the
Serbian G.H.Q. was at Salonica, there was also an advanced G.H.Q. near
Mount Floka. The ground on the Serbian front was extremely rough, with
huge masses of rock, high peaks and great forests spread over it. The
area of the II Army was a particularly uncomfortable one, as it was
almost everywhere exposed to the enemy fire. The roads were few and
bad, and communications extremely difficult. For its supplies, the I
Army made use of the Monastir railway as far as Sakulevo, then of the
décauville for a few kilometres, and finally of the ordinary roads.
The II Army could not use the railway beyond Vertekop. At the railway
terminus there were motor parks supplied by the British, who organized
an excellent service, principally with small Ford lorries which could
go anywhere, even over the most impossible roads. The Serbians knew
how to make the best use of the scanty agricultural resources of the
country, and although they complained that the least fertile areas had
been assigned to them, they managed so well that their horses never
lacked forage and always appeared fat and well fed. They were indeed
excellent horse-masters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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