Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

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BULGARIA ENTERS THE WAR. 25

which M. Venizelos was destined to utter as head of the Greek Government. They could have only one meaning—that the Greek army, in concert with the Allies at Salonika, would take the field at once against Bulgaria on Serbia’s behalf. But next morning the Prime Minister was summoned to the Palace, and told by King Constantine

that his policy had not the royal sanc- - 5 tion. That afternoon he announced his resignation in the Chamber, to the surprise of his countrymen and the consternation of the Allies. M. Zaimis, the Governor of the National Bank, was entrusted with the task of forming a Cabinet. The new Ministry proclaimed its policy as the maintenance, as long as events permitted, of a state of armed neutrality, but a neutrality, so far as concerned the Western Allies, ‘“ to be characterized by the most complete and sincere benevolence.” Of this benevolence the tacit sanction given to the Salonika landing might be regarded as a proof.

Events now moved swiftly. On 7th October von Mackensen forced the line of the rivers, and on Saturday, gth October, Belgrade fell to , , ¢ General von Koevess. Two Bulgarian SRE armies, the 1st under General Bojadiev, and the 2nd under General Teodorov,* were on the Serbian frontier. Turkish troops were moving over the Thracian borders, and around Dedeagatch. On Monday, the 11th, the Bulgarian advance guards crossed the marches, and next day the Government of Sofia formally declared war upon

* In the First Balkan War he had commanded the 7th Bulgarian Division, which marched on Salonika, and so was now employed in the Zerrain of the earlier operations.