The Macedonian Question and the Balkan War

Abstract

Governments seldom fall in a day or wars break out without some previous “laying of the mines.” When General Savoff, commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian army, was questioned in 1911 before the national assembly on the condition of the military forces, he replied: “Excellent. Ready for any emergency and capable of defeating the Turks.” The Sobranje was pleased, but a smile went around the European capitols. For over a quarter of a century Europe and Turkey lived on in almost complete indifference to the steady growth of the small Balkan states in resources, in economic powers, and in military strength, and with a total disregard of the vital interests of these lesser powers in the settlement of that most vexing of all problems—the Macedonian question. The remarkable development in Germany and Italy along commercial, industrial and political lines in recent times is well known; but the equally astonishing progress of these Balkan nations during the same period has been little noticed by the world at large. And, while Bulgaria, Servia and Greece, in spite of their own personal jealousies and ambitions, made stead and splendid progress in the work of national development and of preparation for the crisis that every year became more imminent, the Ottoman government procrastinated and evaded responsibility.