RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA AS PROTECTORS OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES.—­The struggle between the great powers as to which of them should become the heirs of “the sick man of Europe,” as the Sultan of Turkey was long ago called, dates back about a century.  Austria on account of her geographical position and her desire to expand to the southward, and Russia on account of her desire for Constantinople and the racial ties connecting her with the Balkan states, each hoped to be preferred.  Both Austria and Russia, then, for more or less selfish reasons, were anxious to bring about the break-up of the Turkish Empire in Europe.  Whenever a revolt against Turkish rule would break out, the revolutionists could almost always count on the help of one or the other of these nations.

Since the Slavs and the Greeks hated each other, and both hated the Bulgarians, there was sometimes a tendency for the Bulgarians and the Greeks to look to Austria or Germany for help, as a counterpoise to Russia’s influence on behalf of the Slavic states.  At one time, however, Russia gave great aid to Bulgaria.  In all the twists and turns of Balkan politics we find Russia or Austria posing as protector of the rights of one or another of the Balkan states.

On the other hand, when all the Balkan states bordering Turkey put aside their rivalries and combined for an attack on Turkey in 1912, Germany and Austria gave what moral support they could to Turkey.  Austria had no desire to see a strong league of the Balkan states formed to the south of her, a league which would be largely under the influence of Russia.

German leaders had already formulated their dream of Mittel-Europa (Mid-Europe), a broad band of German-controlled territory extending to Turkey.  With Turkey itself Germany made treaties which practically assured her control all the way to Bagdad.  Germany had no desire either for a Balkan league, which would block her way, or for the defeat of Turkey, which might interfere with the carrying out of the treaties.

THE BALKAN WAR OF 1912.—­Turkish rule in Macedonia had become increasingly bad.  Situated in the midst of three of the larger Balkan countries, it had representatives of each among its population.  These countries put aside for the time being their jealousies of each other.  In 1912 Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro formed an alliance and presented a demand to Turkey that Macedonia should be made self-governing.  Most of Europe believed that the German-trained army of the Turks would annihilate the armies of the smaller nations.  But in a little over a month Turkey was beaten.  Even Constantinople might have been taken had Bulgaria pursued the advantage gained by her troops.  This time no nation protected Turkey, and the treaty of peace left her with only a tiny bit of European territory and the city of Constantinople.  Incidentally, Germany had lost much prestige, for Turkey had fought the war with the help of German officers and with German encouragement, and had lost.