Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-12-15
DUCKS GIVE WAY
SECRETS Of army
Unique Method Employed
by Spies of Servia in
Watching Austrians.

correspondence of Associated Press)
Mftrovitz. Croatia, Dec. l5.-Mitro
vitz is a sort Of frontier point of the
Balkans. 1t was founded by the Ro
mans and called Symrium for no good
reason. 1t has a wide front ON the.
Save river and many ducks. All this
leads to strange chapter in the op
and has to do with the end of the
Serb Tmok lewiston of 1900 men.
CaETier pigeons have played a
prominent part in many wars. MANY
a beeaguered city has asked for re-.
lief through them. But the duck can
not be said heretofore to have served
other military purposes than to glad
en- the stomach of some foraging SOL
diers. In the Balkans however, they
have strang ideas, it is said. So when
the Servian spies at Austrian Nitro
vitz needed q means that would con
vey certain military information of
Importance to the troops in Servian
Mitrovitz. right across the broad ana
deep Save, they decided to employ
ducks.
The ferry across the river had been
destroyed. The banks Of the river
We're carefully patrolled and watched
by the Austro- -Hungarians and how
to get information to the other side
was a problem over which the spies
at Austrian Mitrovitz pondered lons.
me only creature that could show
itself on the river was a duck. But
ducks have habit Of remaining near
their habitat, and for this reason
We're not suited for the CARRYING Oh
messages.
Ducks Represent Armies.
however, the Serbs Of Servia need:
ed information on the strength of the
'Austro. Hungarian force in Austrian
Mltrovitz and since this force kent
moving up and down the river-in ana
out or the city-it was desirable to
nave this information every day. So
the spies decided ON an Ingenious
scheme. Each duck to he seen on the
river represented company of Aus
tro- hungarian troops. When the
ducks were east Of the ferry it meant
that the decrease or increase in mum
Der or tho @Austro-Hungarians III Nit.
roVitz was due to the arrival of troops
from, or departure to the east. The
same applied to ducks seen west of
the ferry. Thus. if on certain day
~ ducks were seen west Of the ferry
by the Servian observers. but only IL
IN the same spot on the following dlay
1t meant that eight companies had
marched out of Mitrovitz in q west.
erly direction. Departures were an
T.; nounceo an the morning and arrivals
permitting all accurate system of field
intelligence. "'"
HANDLE the Ducks Themselves.
IN some manner the .Austro- HIM
garians learned of the mission Of tn.
ducks and bought every one thew
could fnd. Some. of the officers IA,
vored the arrest of those Serbs who
sx.o'en.iy protested against the trans
Ter or ownership, but the officer in
Command thought this would ruin
Thereafter the ducks continuea p,
enjoy their sWims on the river, pnt
this time the Austrians Determined
tne number OF birds that were to be
given this privilege. 1t is asserted here
that the number of ducks on the wa
Ter WAS woefully out Of keeping with
the number of .Austro-H o-Hungarian sol.
dters in Austrian Mitrovitz, and in
this manner the Servian armv ws.
often deceived.
But one day no ducks appeared on
the Save. The Austro- o-Hunearia,,
troops had evacuated Mitrovitz tha,
night, some moving up and SONS
aown Gown the river. 1t was for some such
Ttmok division had been waiting.
That evening he took his force
across the river. occupied some terri.
tory five kilometers west of Mitrovitz
and was banquetted that night bv thr
Austrian Serbs. AV
Austrians Descend, .r,
Toward morning In the still eray
dawn when mans vitality is lowest.
as the savants asserted, and whei,
banquetters are not. supposed to be II.
the best trim for fighting, the Austro.
Hungarian troops descended upon. the
TtmOk division and finished the ca
reer OF one OF Servia's most famous
military organizations-killin many.
leading away some $4,000 ,captiyes.
and taking much laot. i5.,f z l1r'.
Such is the history of tho battle Of
Mttrovitz on 4ap&saaber, 4 :. ven the
Serbs here sinile when they think, or
II There is an order now. tila@ ne ne
dqsks may be permitted to; swim, on
.neus enc 80 q sss sissoSss Y hss rsiasd