New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05

Ralwa and Avalla heights were plainly
visible. During a morning or two on
the heights nearer at hand tEtlchaelo-
vatz on my right and Verbovatz on my
LETT on both of which the Serblans
were in position, had been subjected
to perhaps one of the most appalling
deluges of shells Of all sizes that the
war has yet seen. An officer who had
chung with his men to Verbovatz until
it was folly to stay longer told me the
hill and its neighbor had been simply
blown out OF existence. Fair green
hills had been altered TO shapeless
masses of iron shard on which nothing
could live.
Stubborn. Cool Retreat.
With the hills in the possession Of
the Germans the retreat OF the Shou-
NADIA division and of those to the
right and left became necessary, and on
the Afternoon Of the 18th ! saw this
movement carried out with GOODNESS
and calmness which made il one Of
the finest feats of the war. The men
of the Morava Valley, fighting on and
for their own fair beloved corner OF
the earth, were more han magnificent.
A long line of victories has made them
n
steady, stubborn, cool retreat they rose
superior to all their splendid battle
traditions.
The Germans were throwing out
forces to right and left. Their cav
airy was advancing across the plain,
and the artillery from the farther side
of the river was searching the woods
in front of the advancing forces. Tall
columns of she'll fumes sprung Up in
eerie fashion among trees like figures
on a chessboard. Slowly, yard after
yard of ground was yielded, one sec
tion after another supporting its neigh
Dor into safety.
To say that the men of Morava were
RS cool as on parade does not adequate
describe their spirit. They were inf
nitely cooler. They were as gay as oil
holiday. They knew they had done
their duty and were doing it. They
knew that as result they had so ham,
pered the Germans in their advance
that if the progress became no more
rapid the German plan was foiled. How
steadfastly that Serbian battle line
moved south to its new position! AS
watched the Germans took Poschare-
vatz, and cloud of dust far on the
left told of the blowing up by the
SeTDs OF the LuUtJe'o ptlubcs
No Junction with Bulgars Yet.
ID is now reported that the Germans
have entered Palanka, near which they
we're at that time, but the Morava ad-
vance is unimportant, and all reports
of their joining up with the Bulgarisns
are unfounded.
Near Palsnka I visited the headquar-
ters of Colonel Tertich, who received
me in a most cordial manner and babe
me stay to dinner with him.
81 wish you would tell the people OF
the outside world" he said when left,
that Serbia will keep on fighting dur
ing all these dark days, for we hope
always 10 be worthy of the valuable
friendship Of the great nations allied
in the cause of freedom and right"
To sum up the story of the operations
on the northern front, it may be said
that German progress has been lament
ably insignificant. The little that has
been won has been gained solely by
almost unbelievable artillery strength.
Il has been established that Won Mack
ensens army does not consist of more
than 10000 men, but it is provided
with artillery which would be consid-
cred ample were his army composed OF
a million men. Into Belgrade alone
90 600 shells were poured.
IL is interesting as showing that
Germany is getting toward the end of
her resources in men that the invading
army in Serbia is scratch force
gathered from all quarters. have
spoken with prisoners who had come
from the Flemish. French, Italian and
Russian fronts, and from garrisons in
Cermanv and throughout the con-
quered territory. Many Of the prison.
ers are young men Of eighteen, who
left their homes but few months ago.
II is an army fighting without reserves.
The progress Won Mackensen has made
has involved a cost out OF all proper
ton 10 the results secured. and is
hopelessly behind expectations. Had
the Bulgarisns not entered the war the
German, army would never have
crossed the Danube. and 1t was only
the German attack which has permitted
tho Bulgsrians TO succeed to the ex-
tent they have done