Naturally in such a country roads are of prime importance in military
operations. A few built and maintained by the state are in excellent
condition and practicable in all sorts of weather. But for the
rest communications consist of bridle paths and trails over the
mountains.
As has been stated, the great highway from Belgrade to Saloniki
is the key to all military operations in the Balkans; nor is this
case any exception. A study of the map will show how this big,
underlying fact entered into the plans of the first three attempts
at invading Serbia. Naturally, had facilities been convenient at
Belgrade, that would have been the point from which to advance.
The next possible point was over the Drina, because it was not
so wide or so deep.
Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of the war were sparsely
served by railroads. But for the purpose of an invasion of Serbia
the lines running to Tuzla in the north and to Vishegrade and Uvatz
in the south were of much strategic importance. Moreover, unlike the
Hungarian plain opposite Belgrade, the country is so mountainous
and well wooded that great bodies of troops could be moved about
without being observed. We now come to the main reason why this
point was chosen, next to Belgrade. Though we shall see that they
did not reach it at their first attempt, there is no doubt that
the main objective of the Austrians was the little town of Valievo,
lying some distance back from the Jadar and the field of battle.
Pages:
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390