The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe, S. 153

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

ing their treachery of 1913, attacked the Serbians on the entire front without previously declaring war. The Bulgars had concentrated against Serbia seven divisions, each consisting of six regiments and one brigade, of infantry, in all 176 battalions of infantry; whereas Serbia was only able to oppose them with 78 battalions. In spite of being so greatly outnumbered the Serbians offered stubborn resistance, and every retreat of the Serbs on the Bulgarian front was caused by the pressure of the Austro-Germans. Thus on the river Timok during twelve days from 13th to 24th October, the Bulgarians penetrated only one and a half miles into Serbian territory, all their attacks being bloodily repulsed. But when AustroGermans penetrated deeper to the south, the Serbs ordered the evacuation of Negotin-Zaecar and Knazevac. In the direction of the valley of the Nishava the Serbians and the Bulgarians had nearly equal forces, therefore all Bulgarian attacks were very costly and fruitless. Nowhere were the Bulgars able to dislodge the Serbs by their own forces; these were obliged to retreat before the Bulgars in view of the situation on the other fronts.

On the southern part of their front the Bulgars attacked the Serbs on the front of Vlassina, east of Vrana, with sixteen battalions, where the Serbs had only four to five battalions. They penetrated into the valley of the Morava, but

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