Along the Iverak ridges the Austrians made a determined advance.  The situation of the Serbian troops in this section, the left wing of the Second Army, was extremely dangerous, for their left flank was becoming exposed by the continued retreat of the Third Army.  The only hopeful aspect of their situation was that the Austrians were also having their left flank exposed by the retreat of the Austrians along the Tzer ridges.  Evidently the opposing forces realized this fact, for they made a fierce attempt to drive back the Serbians opposing them, so that their danger from the north might be lessened.  Half an hour later they were severely repulsed.  But heavy reenforcements came up to the Austrians just then, and again they attacked, this time more successfully.

By noon, August 17, 1914, the Austrians had extended their line over to the Serbian right wing.

Unfortunately, at about that time the Third Army again called for assistance, and this hard-pressed division was compelled to send it.  The result was that it was compelled to withdraw gradually to the heights of Kalem.  The retirement was executed in good order, and the Austrians satisfied themselves with occupying Kugovitchi.  Intrenching themselves in their new position, the Serbians awaited further attacks.  Only an ineffectual artillery fire was maintained by the enemy.  Meanwhile came the good news of the success of the Serbians along the Tzer ridges, so preparations were made for another advance on the following day, August 18, 1914.

As has already been stated, the extreme south wing of the Serbian front, the Third Army, had retreated the day before so that it could present a solid front against not only the forces opposing it, but also another column coming up from the south, whose advance had been inadequately covered by third reserve men.  Here the Austrians attempted to pierce the Serbian line in the extreme south and come out at Oseshina.  But though vastly outnumbered, the Serbians held their ground stoutly until late afternoon, when, as already shown, they were compelled to ask the division operating along Iverak for assistance.  When this help came they were able to resume their defense.

Thus ended the second day of the general battle.  On the whole the Austrians had suffered most, but the general situation was still somewhat in their favor.  The Austrian center, along the Tzer ridges, had been pushed back.  To retrieve this setback the logical course for the Austrian commander in chief was to curl his wings in around the Serbian flanks.  That he appreciated this necessity was obvious, to judge from the furious onslaughts against the Serbian Third Army in the extreme south.  But to weaken the Serbian center by these tactics it was also necessary to free the Austrians in Shabatz, or, at least, it was necessary that they should assume a strong offensive against the extreme right of the Serbians, and, if possible, flank them.