The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of 12): The War Begins, Invasion of Belgium, Battle of the Marne
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of 12): The War Begins, Invasion of Belgium, Battle of the Marne
World War, 1914-1918
The attack on the positions at Jarebitze commenced at daybreak on
August 16, 1914. Here the Serbians held good ground: rocky summits,
but so limited in extent that there was room only for a few companies
at a time. On the other hand the ground before them was broken up
into hollows screened by growing corn. This enabled the Austrians
to deploy their lines beyond the Serbian flanks unseen. They did
execute just such a movement, and attempted to circle around toward
the Serbian rear.
At the same time the Serbians here were attacked from in front
by another hostile column which had come from across the plain on
the south side of the Jadar valley, where hollows, sunken roads,
and fields of corn again formed ample screening. However, in spite
of all these movements, the Serbians were able to hold their own.
The Austrian attacks were all beaten back. Their position might
have been held indefinitely, but developments to the south were
taking on a threatening form.
It will be remembered that an Austrian force had been reported
approaching from the south, moving on Krupanie, and that it had
seemed so insignificant that a small detachment of third reserve
troops had been sent to hold it back. But this enemy force now
developed into three mountain brigades.
Reenforcements of infantry and mountain artillery were hurried
down to support the retaining force, but the Austrians were able to
force their way on toward Zavlaka. Seeing Valievo thus threatened,
the Serbians retired from their position at Jarebitze and took up
a new position along a line from Marianovitche to Schumer, thus
enabling them to face both the enemy columns. This retreat was
fortunately not interfered with by the Austrians, though in executing
it the Serbian artillery, which had been in position on the right
bank of the Jadar, was obliged to pass along the Austrian front
in single file, in order to gain the main road.
Early the next morning, August 17, 1914, the Serbians were in position
and had extended their line to Soldatovitcha, whence the detachment
from Krupanie had retired. Summing up the day's fighting, and
considering it as a whole, it will be seen that the Austrians had
pretty well held their own, except on their extreme left, where
they had failed to get in touch with their forces in Shabatz.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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