And moreover, it was evident that it was only the presence
of the Saloniki army that kept Greece neutral. During the year there
were a few fights which were little more than skirmishes; almost all of
the German soldiers had been withdrawn, and it was chiefly the Bulgarian
army that was facing the Allies. On May 26th Bulgarian forces advanced
into Greece and occupied Fort Rupel, with the acquiescence of the Greek
Government.
The Greeks were in a difficult position. It was not unnatural that King
Constantine and the Greek General Staff believed that the Allies had
small chance of victory. Moreover, they had no special ambitions which
could be satisfied by a war against the Central Powers. On the other
hand, Turkey was an hereditary enemy, and the big sea coast would put
them at the mercy of the British navy in case they should join their
fortunes to those of Austro-Germany. To an impartial observer their
policy of neutrality, if not heroic, was at least wise. The Greek
Government, therefore, did its best to preserve neutrality. The
surrender of Fort Rupel was not, however, a neutral act and roused in
Greece a strong popular protest.
Venizelos, who at all times was strongly friendly to the Allies and who
was the one great Greek statesman who not only believed in their
ultimate victory but who saw that the true interests of Greece were in
Anatolia and the Islands of the AEgean, was strongly opposed to King
Constantine's action.
Pages:
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816