Thus it will be seen
that the invasion covered a front of considerably over a hundred
miles and that six strong columns of the enemy had crossed, all of
which naturally converged on Valievo. For Valievo was the terminus
of a small, single track railroad which joined the main line at
Mladenovatz. Thus the Austrians would have a convenient side door
open into the heart of Serbia which was, of course, their main
objective. To this Belgrade was merely incidental. With this line
of transport and communication in Austrian hands, Belgrade would
fall of itself.
From Losnitza, where the main column of Austrians crossed the Drina
to Valievo, runs the River Jadar, along a level valley, which narrows
as it nears Valievo. On the left-hand side of the Jadar Valley rise
the southern slopes of the Tzer Mountains, covered with cornfields,
prune orchards, with here and there a stretch of thick timber.
Continuing southward, slightly to the eastward, up the Jadar Valley
another range rises, slightly smaller than the Tzer Mountains,
forming a smaller valley which branches off eastward. Along this
runs the River Leshnitza, parallel with the Jadar until it makes
an independent junction with the Drina. Still farther up the valley
the foothills of the Iverak ridges are lost in a series of fairly
important summits which closely flank the Jadar River.
To the south of the Jadar River the valley stretches into a rolling
plain, which rises abruptly into the giant Guchevo Mountains.
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