e for the first time. Down in the plain they formed
again, and again they swept up the slopes. This time they did not turn
at the first volley. On they came, with fixed bayonets. And presently
the first line reached the top of the heights, and the fighting was
hand-to-hand. For a moment the Serbians, overwhelmed by numbers, were on
the point of fleeing. But these same men had been through many a
hand-to-hand encounter with both Turks and Bulgars; that experience
stood them in good stead. And again they swept back the attacking masses
of Austria-Hungary.

By evening, August 14, 1914, the Austrians had not yet taken the
heights. But the Serbians, most of them middle-aged and old men, had
spent their vitality. As the dark night lowered over the scene, they
fell back, until, at Jarebitze, they met the first advance guards of the
oncoming Serbian main army. And here they halted, and the united forces
proceeded to dig a trench on a ten-mile front, extending from north to
south, through the town and clear across the Jadar Valley. Nor did the
Austrians then attempt to follow up this first success. Thus the
Serbians were allowed to intrench themselves unmolested until, next day,
August 15, 1914, they were joined by the balance of their forces.

Now, by studying the map, it will be seen at a glance that it was only
the Tzer Mountains which separated the Austrian column crossing the
Drina at Losnitza and the column which had crossed the Save and had
occupied Shabatz. Should the Austrians from over the Drina get
possession of the Tzer ridges, they would thus effect a junction with
the forces in Shabatz, and so form a line that would cut off a large
portion of northwestern Serbia. Aside from that, they would have a solid
front. But should the Serbians possess themselves of the Tzer ridges
first, then they would have driven a wedge in between their two main
forces. This would make it difficult for either to advance, for then
they would be exposing a flank to the enemy, who would also have a great
advantage in position. Moreover, the Serbians would be in a position to
turn immediately toward either of the Austrians' columns, whichever
might need most attention.

Meanwhile, the Serbian cavalry had made a reconnaissance toward Shabatz.
They immediately sent back reports of overwhelming forces occupying the
town. It was out of the question to make any attack there for the
present.

It was now learned, for the first time, that another