Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

CHAPTER LXXXIII.

THE OVERRUNNING OF SERBIA.

Serbia’s Military Position in October— Strategical DifficultiesWeakness of her Army—The One Chance—Von Mackensen’s Objective—The Danube Route—The Ottoman RailwayGerman Dispositions—Bulgarian Dispositions—Serbian Dispositions—The Attack on the Danube—Fall of BelgradeBeginning of Bulgarian Attack— The Timok crossed—Fall of Uskub— Von Gallwitz crosses at Orsova—Fall of Zaichar and Kniashevatz—Fall of Pirot and Kragnjevatz—Fall of NishThe Fights for the Passes—Katchanik and Babuna—The Serbian débécle—The Allies in the South—The French occupy Krivolak—The Attack on Mount Archangel —The Entrenched Camp of Kavadar—Danger of Allied Situation—The Serbian Retreat—A King in Exile.

in the second week of October was simplicity

itself. There were no elements of hopeful doubt to relieve the darkness of her outlook. In modern war, unless the difference of quality 1s immense, it is numbers that win, and her numbers were few. Her great losses in the battles of 1914 had brought down her armed strength, allowing for the use of every available man, to not more than 200,000, and her enemies already in the field could more than double her maximum. Moreover, her successes had impaired her defensive power. Thrice she had been invaded, and three times in heroic battles she had flung back the invader. But her

Te military situation which confronted Serbia