As an old hand, Potiorek personally guided the East African Military Observation Group, but the tides of battle changed without warning, and before long, Potiorek could no longer laugh.
Because of the Russian threat, Chief of Staff Conrad transferred away the Second Army Group, Potiorek's most elite force. The departure of the Second Army Group directly threw the entire Serbian front into a disadvantageous position, exposing Potiorek's so-called "art of command" for what it was.
Serbia withstood three offensives by the forces under Potiorek's command, then shifted from defense to offense and seized the initiative in the war. For a time, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
Even the neutral East African Military Observation Group had no choice but to withdraw to the rear along with Potiorek's headquarters.
Southwestern Bosnia, Mostar.
With the outbreak of war between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia, the Neretva region, being right beside the front line, became a place where even the rustle of wind and cry of a crane struck terror into people's hearts.
As the capital of southwestern Bosnia, Mostar also entered a state of war readiness at this time. It was an important hub for transporting supplies to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's front lines.
Bosnia was primarily mountainous terrain and far from the Austro-Hungarian Empire's core regions, making it difficult for most supplies to be transported overland from the homeland.
But thanks to East African development, the Neretva region possessed the dual advantages of sea transport and railways. Weapons from Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), industrial goods from Austria, and supplies from East Africa could all arrive at Port of Ploče, then be carried by rail to Jablanica in the east, and finally transported to the front by water and road.
This gave the Kingdom of Dalmatia and Bosnia's Neretva River region