The cavalry division, whose left flank was not freed by the clearing
of the Tzer ridges, hurled itself against the Austrians in the
plains before it and threw them into wild disorder. First they
shelled them, then charged. The panic-stricken Magyars fled through
the villages, across the corn fields, through the orchards.
"Where is the Drina? Where is the Drina?" they shouted, whenever
they saw a peasant. A burning, tropical sun sweltered over the
plain. Many of the fleeing soldiers dropped from exhaustion and
were afterward taken prisoners. Others lost themselves in the marshy
hollows and only emerged days later, while still others, wounded,
laid down and died where they fell.
In the Leshnitza similar scenes were taking place. From the ridges
above the Serbian guns roared and poured hurtling steel messages
of death down into the throngs of retreating Austrians. Some few
regiments, not so demoralized as the others, did indeed make several
attempts to fight rear-guard actions, to protect their fleeing
comrades, but they again were overwhelmed by the disorganized masses
in the rear pouring over them.
In the Jadar valley another disorganized mob of Austrians was fleeing
before the Serbians up on the Iverak ridges, who also were pouring
a hot artillery fire into their midst. Presently the Third Army
joined in the mad chase. And now the whole Austrian army was wildly
fleeing for the Drina River.
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