South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-24
AUSTRIANS ARE
DRIVEN BACK BY
SERVIAN TROOPS
Complete AmbuIanCeS, Equip
ment Train, Ammunition and
Several Thousand Prisoners
Taken by ViCtorS.

PARIS. Aug. 24.-The first detailed
account OF the great battle between
the Servians and AusJrians which
lasted for seven days in the territory
on the frontier between Shabatz and
Losnitza has just arrived in Paris by
telegraph from Kragujevat by Henry
Barby war correspondent Of the Paris
Journal
This battle ended in great victory
for the Servians. The Austrians were
decfsiveIy defeated precipitately retir-
ed seeking 70 recross the river Drina.
The SeTvian army pursued them with
drawn swords, inflicting great slaugh-
ter as the enemy retreated When the
fugitives reached the bridges the Ser
Wan artillery had already opened fire.
The spoil was enormous. Fifty
guns, complete ambulances, a com
plete equipment train, ammunition
and several thousand prisoners fall
ing into the hands Of the Serbs. Mr..
Barby writes:
with the Serbian army 1 followed
the Servian-Turkish and the Servian-
Bulgarian wars. I saw those great
battles at KumanOvO. MOnastir and
Bregalnitzaj. But this time / have
witnessed a more formidable struggle
still. a bloody battle which lasted for
"A week The Servian troops yielded to
the Austrian invasion on the front OF
Losnitza and Shabatz on the Drina and
the save which they held further up
a straight line for about so kilometers
Try to Invade Servia-
Three Austrian army corps for six
days attempted to invade Servia by
his direction. With the Servian army
] advanced on August > TO meet
them. For the last 10 kilometers my
automobile had to pass, obscure In a
thick cloud of dust, an uninterrupted
file Of Vehicles carrying ammunition
AMI pOntoon building material.
These latter were carried by the
Servians so that they in their turn
could invade Austrian territory with
their reserve troops.
ON Aug IS. in the evening, I ar
rived at the quarters of the general
Of one OF the armies which had ad-
vanced 20 kilometers. The Austrians
had left the plain and we're occupying
the heights Their cannon attained a
range towards Shabatz and 10 the left
+ dominating all the region about. The
& enemy had had time to install them
selves strongly with artillery and to
dislodge them. had become an eX-
tremely difficult task Unfortunately
I cannot describe either the number
Of the Servians nor the exact location
ftheir works that would he TO give
the enemy information regarding the
SerNia units
Artillery Used.
The deadly battle continued. Aus
TRANS did not fight with that energy
s. and courage that 1 had expected. L
did not wait at the front
The artillery continued 10 play from
one port TO another without ceasing-
/ continued to advance, however,
along the route. The roads were
stocked with the wounded returning
20 the rear. with peasant women and
no vi
lagos.
Profiting by their knowledge of the
ground the numerous bodies of the
Servians pushed on irresistibly. Never
have 1 seen SO many prisoners taken
in open battle.
The 18th cavalry debOuched at a
point known as Belikamen before an
entire division OF Austrians ambushed
there. The situation was critical. The
Austrians, superior in numbers, at
tackled furiOusly Fortunately a bat
talon Of infantry. a squadron Of cav
airy and two sections of rapid firers
from a neighboring division passed
close by and were called in.
Battery Is Captured.
AS soon as these Teinforcements ar
rived She batteries went into action
with wonderful rapidity and with
such precision that they not only 81
fenced the artillery Of the enemy, but
they made prisoners.
To the left OF where this battle was
raging two other cannon were taken
and about 200 prisoners, while the en-
envy fled precipitately.
I interrOgated some OF the officers
who had been taken prisoners, among
them Major Stransd of the 2Sth in
fantry, OF which the colonel was killed
at the head OF the regiment.
OF that regiment Of 1000 men only
$50 survived.
\ second officer. a young Heuten-
ant with tears I'm his eyes told me that
n eight minutes so men were killed
around the commandant Stranski
Not 80 We'll Armed.
The Servian soldiers were not as
we'll armed as the others. but they
showed the greatest courage The
dead were SO numerous that already
the horrible odOr chOked one on
the bridges and in the fields every
where bodies were stretched out under
the burning sun. Towards 4 o'clock
IN the afternoon a squadron Of cavalry
stopped my automobile at a crossing
OF the road 10 ShabatZ about so kilo-
meters 10 the west OF the enemy's pO-
sition. It seemed that they occupied
still the village OF MaOvi There I
met two peasants coming across the
field who directed me and told me
that the enemy had left the village,
but had set II afire and had massa-
cred the people.
went with them tO MaoV. a rich
village OF prosperous farms and fine
looking houses. As l entered the vii
lage I saw the body OF an old man
stretched out on the road. About nine
others OF the natives had been killed.
A dozen houses were in flames
Serbs Take Village.
I left these poor persons and heard
almost Immediately the rumble OF
musketry and a fierCe cannOnading
which recommended on the left The
Serbs were re-taking a village near
DObritCh
About a kilOmeter 20 the left in
the village OF GravitZa there was a
tremendous struggle and the enemy
was driven out
The cannon were still firing accom-
panied by fusillades from rapid fire
guns.
Just as I arrived the rear guard Of
the enemy who were defending the