In the south the S^rri^ trx/v*- *Jv»"y re*/ea*Jrig
before Eourshid Pa%?^, cr>**?i *-v* Moray* from
its right bank to its left ba:.k ar-d k'reacLed them-
selves near Stalatch, where on the IJtth of Septem-
ber arrived Kara-George w>Jj U*e re>*?rvei>. Then
occurred a strange happer,ir-2, Without engaging
in any action Kara-George abandoned the bouthera
division to its fate. For no accoun table reason he
returned to Belgrade with the army reserves, and
without pausing there a single day, he and most of
his officers deserted and crossed the Danube into
Austria, forsaking in its direst peril his country, for



662 THE SERVIAN PEOPLE

whose liberty he had fought so valiantly. He and his
companions were immediately arrested by the Aus-
trian authorities and imprisoned.
The news of these fearful occurrences was stag-
gering to the remaining officers and troops and
spread despair among the people. Near Stalatch the
resistance of the Serb forces was broken; something
like a panic seized on all hearts. The ammunition
and cannon were buried, the troops were disbanded
and dispersed. Near Shabatz, on the west, the same
course was followed by the troops. The whole land
lay once again defenceless and crushed at the feet of
the victorious Turk. The only Serb force which still
held out for some days were the few thousand under
Vouitza Voulich, who was intrenched near Deligrad.
He and his men finally cut their way through the
Turkish lines and went into the interior to their
villages.
After the flight of the leaders who were with
Kara-George and the ensuing general demoralis-
ation, many prominent men and many of the people
in terror of the revengeful Turk fled into Austria.
