ious encounters occurred for
some days, the Austrians evidently not desiring to make any serious
opposition until they should have sufficient backing. But on the morning
of September 9, 1914, the Serbian right came in contact with strongly
intrenched Austrians at Detch and Surchin. During the first invasion the
fighting had been under a tropical sun. Now the weather was cooler,
almost cold at nights, which rendered the enthusiasm and the fighting of
the men on both sides correspondingly more spirited. It was, therefore,
with some vim that the Serbians threw themselves into an attack against
Detch. After a determined resistance, the Austrians were forced out.
Next Surchin became the center of battle, but here the Austrians held
out stoutly, driving back the Serbian charges again and again.

All that day of September 9, 1914, the Serbian advance was checked, but
the following morning, being reenforced, they charged into Surchin again
and finally drove the Austrians out at the point of the bayonet. The
Serbians then turned north and captured Dobranovtsi. And at this
junction the Serbians stationed at Belgrade crossed the river there and
advanced on Semlin.

On September 11, 1914, General Boyovitch moved his whole front forward,
with the object of driving all of the enemy westward into the
Frushkagora Mountains and gaining full possession of the plain. This
would have left the two divisions and the cavalry free to advance
against the mountain range itself. Having once gained that stronghold,
the Serbians would then have under their control the whole district of
Syrmia with its friendly population of Serbs.

The Serbians were now extended along a front from Hrtkovtsi to Pazova
Nova while the Austrians were intrenched along a line from Jarak to
Pazova Stara. The following morning the Serbian left occupied Pechintsi
and advanced north to the Romer Canal, where they met a heavy fire and
were compelled to intrench themselves. Farther west, however, the
Serbians rushed the town of Jarak and took it by means of bayonets and
hand bombs.

Such was the situation on September 12, 1914, when a bright, clear
morning had dawned and a cool breeze swept over the plain. Off in the
distance rose the blue ridges of the Frushkagora Mountains, streaked
with the green of vegetation along their lower spurs. With tingling
blood and renewed vitality the Serbians looked forward to the word of
command which should send them onward, driving the Au