LATE WAR TALK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 131, 5 February 1915, Page 2

LATE WAR TALK.

FEW PARALLELS IN HISTORY,

SERVIANS GREAT RECOVERY

STORY OP AUSTRIAN DEBACLE. The correspondent of the Times with the Servians desciibes the third Austrian invasion as the greatest debacle. After checking the second invasion the Servians entrenched themselves in the line between Boranja and Drenovatz; It was a nerve-racking strain fer a small force to maintain the line against superior numbers. Many cf the men lost their reason, and. the retirement seriously affected the Servians morale.

The Austrians eagerly pursued them and bringing up five army corps threatened to round up the Servian army. The capture of Kragujevatz.with its arsenals, and then the surrender of Nish would have been inevitable. Tire Servians perceived that the Austrian plan was to strengthen the wings and then swing round to north uid south in an attempt to envelop :he smaller army. The Servians shortened their own line, and made a deermined effort to break through the weakened Austrian centre. The brusque offensive movement •urprised the Austrians, who found that the Servians had pulled themselves together, and were advancing hTGsistibly in a manner that has few parallels in history. For three days there was a stern j.ombat—from December 2 to December 4. It threw the Austrian centre into headlong flight. The wings subsequently received a crushing defeat, uul fled in disorder. One of the iflost sanguinary battles was fought when he Austrian rearguard was being hartssed.

King Peter reached Belgrade, and "here was a thanksgiving service at he Cathedral on Dec/embc/r 15. In a further message the corresponlent, describing the Austrian retreat fom Suvcbar, says:

“It was a, disaster rising in crescendo until it became a debacle. The Austrians in the early stages, were not tressed for a while, and they buried or a while, and they buried heavy heavy guns as though they had been alien warriors, erecting wooden crosses ever them. The breech blocks ;f the- siege guns were removed and carried off, together with the ammuiii:ion and accessories.

“Later a lively and panic-stricken rout commenced under the terrible enfilading fire of the Servians. Horses, waggons and men lay in mangled leaps, dead horses remaining in the drafts, and dead men still clutching die reins. It was a pathetic and moving picture this bewildering flight. The Vustrians had only a single thought—to get outside the range of the guns. “They abandoned everything. Canicn, v ere left intact, maxims in the trenches, ammunition waggons full cf shells. Thousands of rifles were dropred by the roadside Horses overcome with fatigue were left to die, and wounded soldiers were left to their fate. The dead soldiers were uncountable.

-“Discarded trophies cf the rout were found every few yards. Gunners, hav'ng cut the traces, fled with their dorses. Constantly one saw a blue and v r ey clothed soldier outstretched and awaiting death, alone and unbefriended.” ' .