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

THE OVERRUNNING OF SERBIA. 135

On the afternoon of 19th September von Koevess’s batteries opened against Belgrade, and battle was joined all along the river line. At ¢ 5 | first the invaders made little progress. 2819; Their big guns had not yet come up, and the Serbian artillery and the guns of the British sailors prevented a crossing. But in the first days of October the situation changed. Bulgaria was getting ready, the guns had arrived from Poland, and on 3rd October the first shots were fired in the 4, real bombardment. It was such a tS prep- Chee aration > as had preceded the May onslaught on the Donajetz, or the September advance in the West. The Serbians had nothing of the same calibre with which to reply, and their positions on the south bank were slowly pounded into dust. Under cover of the guns both von Gallwitz and von Koevess attempted crossings—the former at Semendria, Ram, and Graditze ; the latter at Shabatz, Obrenovatz, and especially at Ciglania Island, in the Save, just above Belgrade. Von Gallwitz was aiming at the Morava valley, von Koevess at the capital.

On the 7th both Save and Danube were crossed, the latter at Belgrade itself. The immense weight of artillery fire made the city untenable, 5, _ ¢ and on the 8th the Serbians began to Bl Te: evacuate it. During the day fierce fighting continued at the quays and the lower part of the town, but by the evening the Citadel and the royal Palace had been taken. There was a desperate guerilla struggle in some of the streets, and it was not till the morning of the gth that von Koevess had the whole place in his hands. He os found little booty, except some old guns, for the