The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
LONG A DEADLOCK.
serbs and Austrinns Have Watched
Each other Across save.

The reported earnest attempt on the
part OF the Austro-German troops TO take
Belgrade. the former capital of Serbia, IL
true. brings to "A stop one OF the most
UNIQUE situations the present war has
created. For more than n quarter of a
year troops whose respective sovereigns
plunged Europe into history's ~bloodiest
war have been little more than making
faces at each other, figuratively speak
ing, while nominally engaged in bitter
warfare.
At one point hardly a thousand yards
separate the "beleaguers" and the
~beleaguered, namely at the most exposed
portion of the river front OF Belgrade.
where the Save is only about $50 yards
across. Opposite Belgrade, at the con-
junction of the Save n the Danube,
lies the Hungarian town of Semlin. Both
own show plenty OF souvenirs from the
big shells that flew thick and fast, back
and forth, during the mutual lombard
ments in the earlier stages of the war.
But for months the citizens of Belgrade
have been walking about the city's
streets with impunity. though so per
cent. OF the shops are shattered and roads
and buildings wholly or partly demol-
ished. The Austrian soldiers can be
seen with the naked eye in Semlin.
across Uhe river.
Belgrade and semIin Suffered.
Interesting ~sidelights into the events
preceding this state of affairs is given
In a letter from a correspondent 1" Bel
grade. When the Austrians last Feb
ruary began the heavy bombardment OF
Belgrade, he explains, the Serbians
promptly turned their guns on Semlin.
and as both towns are entirely at the
mercy OF the bombarders the heavy
gunfire soon was succeeded by n peace
full war scene. When the Serbians by a
lucky shot had killed with one she'll an
Austrian General and killed or wounded
twenty other officers. an emissary with
a white flag was despatched from Sem
lin to the Serbians to propose that each
side should respect the others city and
confne its fire to the outer Qualifications
and gun positions as far as these were
dlscoverable. Tie proposal was ac-
cepted.
From the slopes OF Kara Bourma.'
continues the correspondents letter,
you can study the Aus;rain's position
In peace, unless he should chance to
take a dislike to you and open on you
with artillery or som thing heavier. An
evacuated line Of trenches and Serbian
u positions in Kara Bourma shows
$3.50 80 ~ ANNlN nv van IAN
This was six months ago. As one
stands now on the edge OF the great
she'll pits where the Serbian guns once
were one looks across at the Austrian
positions with n certain feeling Of re-
spect, not lessened by the knowledge
that the Austrians are doubtless study
ing you through glasses and wondering
what you are.
River Front DesOIatcd.
ron the west of Belgrade. along the
Save. It is an easy rifle shot across
the stream. and the whole river front
10 a scene OF desolation, OF tumbled
bricks n shell torn earth. Immediately
to your left is the ruined steel bridge
across the Save. one end OF the four
still visible spans rests on a pier, while
THE other end Is In the water. The fifth
span dropped deep enough into the water
to allow the enemy's monitors to pass
over It,"
The correspondent describes how he
saw a little girl chase butterflies among
the wreckage where the Austrians early
In the war crossed the river in force, in
vading Belgrade.
This little girl unwittingly served as
p~ru;ectt,n for a party that for twenty
minutes stood on the shore OF the Save,
not a sound breaking the stiffness Of
he wasted shore At our feed. the river
or the banks On the o'her side" Walk
Ing away, the party took the child along,
letting her walk in the middle II the
road.
when the n DDS have receded," he
writer predicts, there will he no more
strolling down to look at the enemy
across 700 yards OF open water and no
more chasing of butter flies on this dread
ful foreshore."