Wurm’s XVI Corps had very clear orders to drive the Montenegrins out of Austrian territory, but not to follow them into Montenegro. GM Heinrich von Pongracz of 3rd Mountain Brigade, having chased two Montenegrin brigades out of Austrian territory, pursued them over the border in hopes of rendering them unable to resume their attacks on the Dual Monarchy.

The Austrians would later describe Pongracz’s attack as a “raid,” but he apparently did attempt to seize strong positions within Montenegro to help keep enemy soldiers and komitadji irregulars from filtering back over the border to terrorize local Catholics and Muslims. The Austrian brigade inflicted a sharp defeat on the Montenegrins, then on orders from corps headquarters retreated back over the border into the Dual Monarchy’s territory.