History of the World War, Volume 3 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest warMarch, Francis A., Jr.
History
History of the World War, Volume 3 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest war
March, Francis A., Jr.
World War, 1914-1918
Upon his first resignation M. Zaimis was appointed Premier, and
declared for a policy of armed neutrality. This position was sharply
criticised by Venizelos, but for a time became the policy of the Greek
Government. Meantime the Allied troops were arriving at Saloniki. On
October 3d, seventy thousand French troops arrived. A formal protest
was made by the Greek commandant, who then directed the harbor
officials to assist in arranging the landing. In a short time the
Allied forces amounted to a hundred and fifty thousand men, but the
German campaign was moving rapidly.
The German Balkan army captured Belgrade on the 9th of October, and by
that date two Bulgarian armies were on the Serbian frontier. Serbia
found herself opposed by two hundred thousand Austro-Germans and a
quarter of a million Bulgarians. Greece and Roumania fully mobilized
and were watching the conflict, and the small allied contingent at
Saloniki was preparing to march inland to the aid of Serbia.
The conduct of Greece on this occasion has led to universal criticism.
The King himself, no doubt, was mainly moved by his German wife and the
influence of his Imperial brother-in-law. Those that were associated
with him were probably moved by fear. They had been much impressed by
the strength of the German armies. They had seen the success of the
great German offensive in Russia, while the French and British were
being held in the West. They knew, too, the strength of Bulgaria. The
national characteristic of the Greeks is prudence, and it cannot be
denied that there was great reason to suppose that the armies of Greece
would not be able to resist the new attack. With these views Venizelos,
the greatest statesman that Greece had produced for many years, did not
agree, and the election seemed to show that he was supported by the
majority of the Greek people.
This was another case where the Allies, faced by a dangerous situation,
were acting with too great caution. In Gallipoli they had failed,
because at the very beginning they had not used their full strength.
Now, again, knowing as they did all that depended upon it, bound as
they were to the most loyal support of Serbia, the aid they sent was
too small to be more than a drop in the bucket. It must be remembered,
however, that the greatest leaders among the Allies were at all
times opposed to in any way scattering their strength. They believed
that the war was to be won in France. Military leaders in particular
yielded under protest to the political leaders when expeditions of this
character were undertaken.
Certainly this is true, that the world believed that Serbia had a right
to Allied assistance. The gallant little nation was fighting for her
life, and public honor demanded that she should be aided. It was this
strong feeling that led to the action that was taken, in spite of the
military opinions. It was, however, too late.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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