The Kingdom of serbia : report upon the atrocities committed by the Austro-Hungarian Army during the first invasion of Serbia

PILLAGE 151

every article of value, including the spoons, forks, ete.—four dozen of each, jewellery, ornaments, and most of the contents of Mrs. Petrovitch’s wardrobe. One day the officers had the safe carried down at midnight into the yard by their orderlies, had it forced, and seized the contents. The furniture was smashed, dresses were torn, armchairs, mirrors, and other articles broken, the carriage was damaged, ete.

They looked everywhere for Petrovitch, junior, Lieutenant in the Reserve, and threatened Maria because she would not tell them where he was.

In the evening they took off their uniforms and got themselves up in Mrs. Petrovitch’s dresses.

Pavle Babitch, Mayor of Lipolist : In his house the Austrians likewise demolished the furniture. He himself had fled. The parish funds and records were burgled.

Pantelia Maritch, Mayor of Petkovitza, declares that the Town Hall was set on fire. He furthermore deposes that the Austrian soldiers were provided with little tin cans, with the contents of which they washed down the place where they intended to start the fire. The actual lighting was done with a match. The municipal safe was taken into the street and forced, pictures were slashed and the records thrown about and destroyed; the school was similarly pillaged; the schoolmaster’ private room was subjected to the same fate. Inkstains were conspicuous everywhere.

Budimir Zhivanovitch, Mayor of Ribare, declares that the Austrians fired 50 houses and more than 200 barns. Eye-witnesses were struck by the fact that the fire took hold immediately.