They were being faced by a Bulgarian army numbering one hundred and twenty-five thousand men, and found themselves in serious danger.  They were compelled to fall back into what is called the “Entrenched Camp of Kavodar” without bringing the aid to the Serbian army that they had hoped.  The Allied expedition to aid Serbia had failed.  It was hopeless from the start, and, if anything, had injured Serbia by raising false expectations which had interfered with their plans.

During the whole of this disastrous campaign a desperate political struggle was going on in Greece.  On November 3rd, the Zaimis Cabinet tendered its resignation to King Constantine.  The trouble was over a bill for extra pay to army officers, but it led to an elaborate discussion of the Greek war policy, M. Venizelos made two long speeches defending his policy, and condemning the policy of his opponents in regard to the Balkan situation.  He said that he deplored the fact that Serbia was being left to be crushed by Bulgaria, Greece’s hereditary enemy, who would not scruple later to fall on Greece herself.  He spoke of the King in a friendly way, criticizing, however, his position.  He had been twice removed from the Premiership, although he had a majority behind him in the Greek Chamber.

“Our State,” he said, “is a democracy, presided over by the King, and the whole responsibility rests with the Cabinet.  I admit that the Crown has a right to disagree with the responsible Government if he thinks the latter is not in agreement with the national will.  But after the recent election, non-agreement is out of the question, and now the Crown has not the right to disagree again on the same question.  It is not a question of patriotism but of constitutional liberty.”

When the vote was taken the Government was defeated by 147 to 114.  Instead of appointing Venizelos Premier, King Constantine gave the position to M. Skouloudis, and then dissolved the Greek Chamber by royal decree.  Premier Skouloudis declared his policy to be neutrality with the character of sincerest benevolence toward the Entente Powers.  The general conditions at Athens during this whole time were causing great anxiety in the Allied capitals, and the Allied expedition were in continual fear of an attack in the rear in case of reverse.  They endeavored to obtain satisfactory assurances on this point, and while assurances were given, during the whole period of King Constantine’s reign aggressive action was prevented because of the doubt as to what course King Constantine would take.

In the end Constantine was compelled to abdicate.  Venizelos became Premier, and Greece formally declared war on the Central Powers.

It was not till August 27th, 1916, that Roumania cast aside her role of neutral and entered the war with a declaration of hostilities on Austria-Hungary.  Great expectations were founded upon the supposedly well-trained Roumanian army and upon the nation which, because of its alertness and discipline, was known as “the policeman of Europe.”  The belief was general in Paris and London that the weight of men and material thrown into the scale by Roumania would bring the to a speedy, victorious end.