SKILL OF THE SERVIAN TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2380, 9 February 1915, Page 6

SKILL OF THE SERVIAN TROOPS

ADMIRED IN AUSTRIA The "Neue Zurcher Zeitung" of"December 4—that is, before the recapture of Beldgrade by the Servians— quotes the following opinion on Servian military efficiency from the Austrian Press: — The Servian troops and their command have a rich war thing we lack. Aggressive as their idea of war was from the, beginning they have shown themselves very careful in the ivay ill which they ' translated this idea into tactical offensive; They spared the lung-strength of their infantry for operative tasks, and they contented themselves for the most part with cleverly-conducted tactical defensives, which they animated at favourable moments by brief counter-offensives. Tho Servian infantry has shown itself very apt in marching, courageous, a,nd uncommonly clever in the 'construction and use of field covers. Contrary to tho usual idea of concentrating the defence onco and for «iU in one main position, which is then defended with the utmost determination, it is characteristic of the Servians that they construct several fortified positions, ono behind the other, the most important of them being, as far as possible, planned out on the ter- | raco principle. . ■ . The Servians axe I altogether exceedingly dexterous in the masking of their fortified positions. | Still, the fire of Servian infantrv is not particularly efficient except at short distances against largo: targets lite advancing skirmishing lines. In consequence of their deep covers they invariably fire too hign. This depth of their cover makes it extremely difficult to locate and to 1 storm them, but as against this it has frequently happened that the Servians had no time toget out of their trenches, and were thus captured by us. Much more powerful is tho fire of their machine-guns, but they have not such an abundance of them as we.

Excellence of ths Artillery. The chief weapon of the Servians in a fight at closo quarters is the hand grenade. They use tliem in attack as well as ill defence. A remarkable incident occurred once when a portion of the Olmutz Regiment was attacked by Servian infantry. One could see in the front ranks of the assailants a young infantry officer rushing forward in spite of the heavy fire. In his right hand he held a hand grenade, in order to use it as soon as he approached our ranks. This officer became the target of a captain in the 54th Regiment. Suddenly there was an explosion in front of the Servian line, and the young 'officer was seen being blown to pieces. Our captain had by a lucky accident just hit the grenade in his hand. The Servian artillery is excellent. It seems to have had the best experience during the Balkan wars., Above'all, it is difficult to discover it. It works with great exactness without affording any opportunity for rapidly locating *its position. This renders the task of beating it down very difficult. _ This ■is so not only because the Servians are experts in finding for their gcins good covered positions, but also becauso tho Servian artillery is free from all routine, and is employed, after the Boer manner, in platoons, and even in single guns. In addition it almost daily changes its position. This renders it necessary to employ aviators for 'ascertaining their positions; but even this method is not always crowned with success, as the strong cover afforded by the ground greatly impedes observation. As a rule the Servian artillery is very, well informed of our positions and is provided with excellent sketches of the country. It has also shown itself very energetic in disturbing and fighting our floating field batteries on the Danube and the Save.

Clever Engineers. In order to prevent an attack in the night the Servians, if they have sufficient ammunition, keep up, with regular intervals, a lively firo by means of their artillery, machine guns, and rifles from twilight till the next morning, aiming at the assumed targets. This procedure, it is true, causes a great waste of ammunition with hut very limited success at the targets, but it attains its primary object. The technical troops of the Servians are very clever as engineers, while the strength of their pontoon-builders lies in improvisation. Snch a training and employment of the engineering troops are quite adapted to the conditions obtaining among the Servians, who oertainlv lack ready material for fording and bridging. On the whole no atrocitics are reputed as having been committed by the Servian troops. WTwrpvrr snch cases occur the responsibility falls upon the Seiv via'l foot Cossacks —the Comitadiis —as well as on the civil population. One has frenuently observed women, and even el'ildreii. fisrhting in the Servian skirmishers' lines.