, thereby giving the Serbians control of the railroad at Ralia; the
terminus of the line, in fact, for a tunnel several miles farther north
had been blown up by the Serbians on the day they had evacuated
Belgrade.

Early the next day, December 12, 1914, the advance was continued and the
left wing of the Third Army reached Obrenovatz and its right occupied a
line from Konatitche to Boshdarevatz. The Second Army occupied the
summits designated as Hills 418 and 287 and the Belgrade detachment
advanced to a front from Koviona to Krajkova Bara.

Thus, with astonishing swiftness, and in spite of the stubborn
resistance, the crescent was contracting and the Austrians were being
squeezed back into Belgrade. But they continued their desperate
resistance, fighting over every foot of ground before surrendering it.
By December 13, 1914, the enemy had been routed from all the territory
lying between the Save and the Drina, but with such desperation did the
Austrians cling to Belgrade that they delivered repeated counterattacks
upon the Serbian positions at Koviona and Krajkovo Bara before they
finally retired north.

The triumphant Serbians, though they had suffered severely, followed up
the retreat vigorously, pressing along the banks of the Topchiderska
River on the left and up the main road on the right. The left wing had
advanced up the Kolubara River toward its junction with the Save, which
was eight miles behind the Austrian front. The enemy had to draw back
for fear of being suddenly taken in the rear. Two monitors were sent up
the river to check the Serbian cavalry division, which was trying to
work its way around the marshes and thus cut off the Austrian force
entirely. But this movement of the left wing was merely a feint; it was
intended simply to make the Austrian line waver. While the Austrians
were maneuvering in answer to this feint, the Serbian center was pushing
its advance.

The Austrians had attempted to check the Serbian advance by intrenching
heavy rear-guard forces in several strong positions, the nature of the
country being especially suited to such tactics. The hills along the
road north of Ralia are, indeed, strategic points of immense military
value. But the Serbians, their capital now almost in view, pressed on
with frantic vigor.

The Austrians fought manfully, giving them one of the best fights they
had yet been through. Instead of merely clinging to their hill
intrenchments, they made fierce and d