Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-02
RETAkEN
BY SERbIANS WITH
LITTLE OPPOSITION

(Assoeiated Press Correspondence
Valjevo, Serbia, Jan. 20.-The
Serbian reoccupation Of Va1jevo,
which marked the end Of the third
Austrian invasion Of Serbia, was ac-
complished without extensive fighting
in the immediate vicinity Of the town.
The Austrians, it is true. had pre-
pared deliberately for the defense of
Valjevo, and their artillery COM
manded all. the usual approaches.
But the Serbians presented only a
small decoy squad at the main roads.
sending their principal forces around
the hills by footpaths and secret
routes to the rear and flank Of the
Austrian positions.
They took the Austrians complete
~ by surprise. after scattering Il
rear-guard Of Hungarians quietly by
the bayonet. The towns defenders,
attacked from both front and rear,
abandoned trenches and fled. Re
treat changed to rout when the Ser
bans turned on them their own can
non from the heights Smelling the
Austrian rear guard in its flight, and
killing hundred of them at one
spot, as they rounded the top of a
hill just outside the town.
The entry Of the Serbian army was
rot imposing. The men were too
much in earnest for much display or
hilarity. Some of the old population
got out faded flags and hung them
aloft in welcome, and there was A
committee Of old men representing
the municipality to receive the gen.
eral and welcome the returning SOL
diers, but in the main the entry re-
sembled the return TO a bereaved
house after funeral. The dead lay
everywhere, Serbian as we'll as Aus
trian, and as for the wounded-it was
many days before they had all been
gathered up from the fields and hills
of the countryside and placed under
surgeons care.
Along the roads, there was plenty
to indicate the collapse of the invad-
ers' plans. Countless cans Of food
and pieces Of discarded or broken
equipment lay in the wheel tracks,
and here and there could be seen the
CLEAN Of uniform almost complete
ly concealed by the mud. At the en-
trance to the town was a great heap
of broken artillery. ammunition, pro-
visions, baggage. cartridge cases, and
personal effects which the Austrians'
plan TO burn had been foiled by the
pressure of the onccming enemy.
The Serbians advanced too hastily
10 bring up much of their own artil-
lery but they had no difficulty in
manning the Austrian batteries which
they had captured. guns, horses ana
ammunition wagons. The use Of
these Austrian guns against their
late owners added the last incentive
to the hasty departure Of the invad-
ers for the Austrian infantry easily
recognized the shots fired toward them
from their own guns, not only by the
position Of the batteries, but also by
the characteristic reddish purple
smoke Of the Austrian powder
In some of the trenches the Serbs
gathered up the shovels left behinu
by the Austrians and began at once
completing the defense works, for it
was generally believed that the Aus
TRANS would soon reform and return
in an effort at counter attack. The
Serbs expressed great contempt for
the novice Notifications erected by
the Austrian recruits, for the Serbs
have been building trenches all
through three wars. until the science
of this mode of defense is as familiar
to them as target practice.
The horses and ponies which the
Austrians left stabbed in Valjevo in
cluded large numbers of Tyrolean
mules, never before seen in these
parts, but excellent, sturdy animals,
and invaluable for artillery purposes.
In all parts Of the town were to be
seen coaches and cabs, brought from
Trieste and other cities to do mill :
tary duty, and now abandoned, their
shafts pointing desolately skyward
Close behind the Serbian soldiers
came groups of refugees hurrying
back to their homes. which they had
left when they fled before the Aus
trian advance. Their oxen were
yoked up to every conceivable species
of wagon. and their wagons were
piled high with every conceivable
species Of household articles.
There was a great smashing of
dishes when the Serbian women got
back into their homes. for these peo-
pie are almost superstitious as to the
cleanliness OF their crockery and kit
chen war. and it seemed to be the
general opinion among the house
wives that nothing which had been
used by the Austrian invaders was
suitable for use again in preparing
Serbian meals.
Within day or two the town was
almost swamped with prisoners, for
the Servian troops had spread fan
like over the countryside, and were
sweeping in Austrian stragglers from
everywhere