The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

the Serbian headquarters and a very important centre of communications. They advanced along the crests of the Guéevo, Boranja, Yagodnya, and Sokolica Mountains. Had they captured Rozan Hill on Sokolica their advance to Valevo would probably have been successful, for Rozan dominates all the surrounding positions which lead down gradually to Valevo. On September 14th only two very tired and exhausted Serbian regiments were left to defend Rozan, and their resistance was broken before overwhelming numbers. The Austro-Hungarian troops advanced in close files, notwithstanding the fearful losses which they sustained at every advance. Their general had pledged his word to enter Valevo on September 20th, and he drew constantly upon fresh troops to fill the gaps in his lines.

It was a moment of tragic suspense. It seemed that the stubborn resistance of the valiant but sorely tried Serbian Army was at an end, and that the fall of Rozan would not only entail the fall of Valevo, but also that of Belgrade, whose gallant defence was the pride of the army and nation. Happily a Serbian regiment, the same that saved the Serbian position at Bregalnica last year, and to which I was attached during this war, arrived in time, and by a bloody victory on the Rozan stopped the Austrian offensive.

Beaten at RoZan and driven from other positions in the second half of September 1914, the Austro-Hungarian troops occupied the hills of the

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