I have already indicated the situation of Servia. Compelled by the
Great Powers to withdraw her troops from Albania, after they had
triumphantly made their way to the Adriatic, she was now requested by
Bulgaria to evacuate Central Macedonia up to the Ochrida-Golema Vreh
line in accordance with the terms of the treaty between the two
countries which was ratified in March, 1912. The Servian government
believed that for the loss of Albania, which the treaty assumed would
be annexed to Servia, they were entitled to compensation in Macedonia.
And if now, instead of compensation for the loss of an outlet on the
Adriatic, they were to withdraw their forces from Central Macedonia and
allow Bulgaria to establish herself between New Servia and New Greece,
they would block their own way to Saloniki, which was the only prospect
now left of a Servian outlet to the sea. Nor was this the whole {93}
story by any means. The army, which comprised all able-bodied
Servians, was in possession of Central Macedonia; and the military
leaders, with the usual professional bias in favor of imperialism,
dictated their expansionist views to the government at Belgrade. If
Bulgaria would not voluntarily grant compensation for the loss of
Albania, the Servian people were ready to take it by force. They had
also a direct claim against Bulgaria. They had sent 60,000 soldiers to
the siege of Adrianople, which the Bulgarians had hitherto failed to
capture. And the Servians were now asking, in bitter irony, whether
they had gone to war solely for the benefit of Bulgaria; whether
besides helping her to win all Thrace and Eastern Macedonia they were
now to present her with Central Macedonia, and that at a time when the
European Concert had stripped them of the expected prize of Albania
with its much desired Adriatic littoral! This argument was graphically
presented on a map of which I secured a {94} copy in Belgrade. The
legend on this map reads as follows:
"Territories occupied by Servia 55,000 square miles. Servia cedes to
her allies in the east and south 3,800 square miles. Servia cedes to
Albania 15,200 square miles. Servia retains 36,000 square miles.
Territories occupied by Bulgaria to Enos-Midia, 51,200 square miles.
The Bulgarians demand from the Servians still 10,240 square miles.
According to Bulgarian pretensions Bulgaria should get 61,520 square
miles and Servia only 25,760!"