The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe, str. 155

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

front altogether, and always fighting, to retreat to the south, in order to join the Allies and continue the resistance. The Serbian Army, pressed by overwhelming enemy forces, had to undertake the passage of the Western and Southern Morava, and these movements were executed by both armies without leaving either men or material in enemies’ hands. Simultaneously the northern army took the front Catéak-KralevoKrugevac-Stalaé on the south bank of the Western Morava. The divisions opposing the Bulgars took the front Stala¢é-Prokuplé-Leskovac on the western bank of the Southern Morava. The Bulgars, by being in possession of the passes Konéul and Kaéanik, cut off the communication of the Serbian army with the Allies, who by now had reached Krivolak, on the railway line Skoplje-Salonica. In order to join the Allies, and beat the Bulgarian forces occupying the passes, it was necessary to extricate the Serbian army from both the valleys of the Southern and Western Morava. This was executed in spite of enormous difficulties, having only two traversable roads for the retreat of the entire army. The roads, Kralevo-RaskaMitrovica and Krugevac-Blacé-Kursumlia-Pristina. The second army in retreating from Prokuplé had to take the same road KursumliaPrigtina, and was in great danger of being cut off by the advance of the Austro-Germans in the direction KruSevac-Blacé-Kursumlia. The 139