New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-07
Nv GORDON GORDON-SMITH.

,ankovs klissura. Nov. L. / ne great
rctrca. Of the serbian army across the
mountains has now begun. In order
10 understand the critical nature OF
cur position, which at any moment
may turn to disaster. ! must indicate
the mastery nature OF German STRAIT
cgy and tactics. which secures immense
successes and advantages at min
mum cost and risk
When the Germans began the attack
they had recourse 20 the tactics used
in Belgium. They brought an enor-
nous artillery fire from innumcrable
guns to bear on the whole Serbian
front. from the Save to the Rumauan
frontier.
With scores OF guns Of sos and even
s. ccn,imetrcs they battered on the
Serbian defence. and through the
breach thus crested poured an invsd-
ing army Of 100000 men. Against this
artillery fire the Serbians were help
less; such guns as they possessed were
outclassed and outrangcd With their
100000 beyonets, in spite OF the fact
that the Teutons were. as far as ply
sique went, the most miserable ma
terisl it was ever my lot TO sec. they
continually outflanked the 10000 men
the Serbians were able TO oppose to
them.
German Guns Overw helming.
Field Marshal Won Mackensen under
took the descen. of the valley OF the
Morava, while General Won Gallwitz's
columns operated more to the west,
threatening Kraguevatz. the great Ser
bian arsenal Oh the central mountain
plateau.
The tactics remained the same. II
the Serbians we're fortunate enough TO
secure some position Of such natural
strength as 20 compensate for their IN
feriority IN artillery. the German com
manders Immediately made use of their
immense numerical superiority by exc
cutting a turning movement.
The result was that by the end OF
October Won Mackensen had forced ms
way down the valley Of the Morava and
had reached St9latz. which is railway
junction. Won Gallwitz's columns
cleared all the country TO the vest or
che Norsva Valley and drove the Ser
b.ans before them 20 kraUevo.
The Serbian armies. except the divi-
sion which was opposing the Bulgarians
I'D The south. were thus forced back on
Tho mountain range. which AZ TINS point
runs transvcrscly across Serbia. and
behind which lies the old Turkish prov
ince. the Sc~diak of Novi Bazaar, and
tho Plain Of kossovo.
Through this range Of mountains run
Two marrow passes. one from hruze-
vatz to Kurchoumis and the other
toward the old Turkish town Of Nitro
vitz via Rashka. The operation Of con
Quoting the retreat Of the Serbian
armies was like altering ffty-gal!on
c. sk through the meek of pint bottle
The transport Of 10000 oX-drawn army
service wagons. whose best gait Is about
two miles an hour. alone constituted
formi liable problem.
Foe Only Ten Miles AWAY.
such was the position when ! went
% bed last night in Krusevatz. The
whole Of the second and third armies
had received orders 20 retreat through
che sixty kilometre long pass 10 kur-
choumlia The Germans were al Sta
latz junction. ten miles away. and
might begin the attack on Krusevatz at
any moment.
The day before had met some mem
bers OF the Scottish Women's Red Cross
Unit. who had consulted me with some
anxiety as 10 whether they should re-
main when the Germans marched in.
said that the Germans who were very
much on their good behavior in Ser
bia would be only too glad that the
burden Of looking after the Serb
wounded had been taken from them.
Before leaving ! went down to say
goodby and found them quietly work
ing away preparing bandages and disin-
fectants for the wounded which would
undoubtedly be sent in by the retreat
ing troops.
Roads a Huge Quagmire.
In view Of the terrible nature OF the
roads, we had had 10 add a third horse
10 the team of our carriage. mile
from the town we found ourselves in
mass Of wagons, which every instant
became more congested. The passage OF
tens OF thousands OF guns and wagons
had churned the roads into huge
cuagmire.
As darkness fell the scene became
sinister one. To the left. behind the
railway station, one building after an
other burst into flame; the employees
were firing the storehouses and blow
ing up the wagons on the siding. Few
minutes later the whole town was
shaken by series Of explosions. Inc
accumulated stocks IN the ObelltchaVo
powder magazine We're being blown up.
From the eminencc on which ! stood
the spectacle was terrifying. kruse-
vatz was blazing AZ half a dozen points,
the 7hole sky was covered with
crimson glare, while below US the river,
like red blood IN the flames, could be
followed 20 the horizon, where the
flashes of Serb guns delaying the Ger
man advance could be seen.
Germans Halted on Bridge.
On the line Of retreat confusion was
becoming worse. The whole road was
filed with a triple line of bullock
wagons. their painting teams strainlng
to tear them through the tenacious
mud
Suddenly there came an explosion
like an earthquake. An immense col
umn Of yellow fame shot heavcnward.
The heavy order bridge over the river
had been dynsmited. At the same in
slant three immense German shells
came screaming overhead and burst
with tremendous explosions, one near
the town hall and two near the railway
station. These nerve-shaklng explosions
caused a wild panic, the FIRST ! had seen
i'm Serbia. The terrified oxen broke into
a run and poured in a surglng mass,