The invasion of Bosnia, suspended to meet the attacks at Shabatz and the Jadar, was now resumed. Although they were handicapped by lack of materials the Serbs advanced slowly and took the Bosnian tcrwn of Vishegrad, 10 miles within the enany's territory, on 14 Sep tember. This -success prompted Austria to re new her efforts in the northwestern angle of Serbia. Concentrating about 100,000 mea op posite the little river Jadar she crossed at three places between Jania and Liubovia. The' Serbs again attacked, and with their usual vigor. The first and second. columns were driven back into Bosnia, but the third managed to fortify the bridgehead at Linbovia, where they remairied. These operations, lcnown as the battle of the Drina, occurred between 8 and 17 Sept. 1914.
Thus far Austria's best troops had been used against Russia in Galicia, and the operations against the Serbs had been left to troops of the second line. By the end of October the Ger mans were strongly eng-aged against Russia, and Austria-Hungary felt that it was time to make an effort against Serbia in keeping with her strength. She thus made plans for the viinter canapaign which led to her disastrous defeat in the Battle of the Ridges. Her decision pleased Germany, since Turkey was just coming into the war, and that acccanplished it was only necessary to crush Serbia and use a little more judicious diplomacy with Bulgaria in order to. open the railroad from Berlin to Constan.. tinople.
For delivering this blow Austria organized an army of- seven corps, nearly 300,000 men. It is not thought that the Serbs were more than 200,000, and they had a slender supply of ammu nition, their only means of getting it from the outside world being through Antivari, in Monte negro, by pack mules over the mountain trails. Greek neutrality did not permit the open im portation of mtmitions through Salonica.
Early in November the Austrian advance be gan on a large scale. A strong column crossed the Danube at Semendria and advanced south ward along the railroad that parallels the Great Morava River. If not opposed it would reach Nisch 110 miles southward. But the greater part of the invading force crossed the Drina in two columns, one near the Jadar and an other opposite the head waters of the Western Morava, 70 miles to the south. Against this triple force the Serbian crown prince stood with his chief army in the hills overlooking the Jadar. But he did not dare remain here for
battle, lest the first and third Austrian columns should turn his flanlcs and cut off his com munications with Nisch. Drawing bacic into tfie hills, he took a strong position on two elevations, the Maljen and the Rudnik or Su vobor ridges, which run across central Serbia 50 miles south of Belgrade. In front of him was the central Austrian column, flushed with the confidence its unopposed advance for 40 miles into Senbian territory gave it. To the southwest the third column stood before Ush itza, faced by a determined Serbian force well placed in the hills.
If the Austrians had attacked promptly they might have won a victory, but they waited two weeks. They were so sure of their position that they sent away two corps to help in the defense of Cracow, threatened by the Russians. In this interval the Serbs received a much needed sup ply of ammunition from the Entente Allies through Greece, by what means we have not yet been told. It gave new courage to the Serbians, who now prepared to force the baetle. Their artillery was admirably placed on the hills and commanded the Austrian lines. On 3 Decem ber they delivered their attack. King Peter, old and ill, came out to the battlefield and sent his soltliers forward with a ringing proclama tion. Any man who desired aught go home, he said, and nosunishment would .be inflicted; gbut I and my sons,x' he added, °stay here?' Not a man left the lines. During the afternoon of the 3d and throughout the 4th and part of the 5th the battle raged furiously, Serbian in fantry and artillery inflicting great dainage on the foe. On this third day, however, the Aus trians couki stand no more. They broke their lines and the Serbs rushed through, dividing them into two masses who sought to escape through the narrow passes among the hills. From the 6th to the 15th the pursuit was main tained until the invaders were driven out of Serbia at all points. Belgrade, which had been occupied, was recovered, and the victors had 43,000 prisoners and many guns as the reward of their bravery. It was reported that the killed and wounded among the Austrians numbered 40,000. In this heroic way did the Serbs justify the confidence of their king and again proved themselves equal to any warriors in the world.