Balkan Wars
two conflicts which took place in the Balkans in the years 1912 and 1913. The indirect cause of the war arose from long-standing conditions in the Balkan peninsula. These included a dissatisfaction of Turkish rule in those portions of the Balkans under Turkish sovereignty; and to dissatisfaction over relations with Turkey in those states which are ostensibly independent.
Its immediate cause was the weakening of the Turkish Government, resulting in BALKAN WARS the overthrow of the ruling power in 1908 by the Young Turk party, and by the series of wars carried on with Italy by Turkey for the possession of the Tripolitan hinterland.
The result of the policy carried on by the Young Turks on their accession to power in 1908 served to draw together the Christian nationalities in the Balkan peninsula in common hatred of the Turks.
As a result of this, by the close of 1910, the Bulgarians and Greeks in Mace donia, who had hitherto been bitter enemies, became reconciled and this was followed by friendly relations between the governments of Greece and Bulgaria.
Another result of the policy of the new Turkish régime was disorder and insurrection in Albania where formerly the tribesmen had been loyal to the Ottoman Empire. The Young Turks, however, undertook to abridge their privileges and deprive them of arms. Thereupon they rose in revolt. In August, 1912, the Albanians submitted to the Turkish Government a number of demands which included the establishment of military and civil reforms. The Turkish Government delayed in replying to these demands and had made no reply when the first Balkan War broke out. Both Montenegro and Serbia were directly concerned with the Albanian situation.
A similar policy created a like situation in Macedonia, and the Greek, Serbian, and Bulgarian inhabitants of that province received the sympathies of their own nationalities. Massacres by Turks in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Thessaly in 1912 added to the rising tide of hostility on the part of these nations toward Turkey.
This situation became so threatening by October, 1912, that the Great Powers had united in an attempt to prevent war.
These attempts, however, failed. On Oct. 13, 1912, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece dispatched an identical note to Turkey demanding the establishment of a complete autonomy under Christian government within six months. Upon receipt of this note Turkey immediately withdrew her representatives from the capitals of these countries. countries. This was followed on Oct. 17 by a declaration of war against Turkey by Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria.
Hostilities began at once. The military plans of the four Balkan powers had been well perfected, while the Turkish military organization had fallen into a state of inefficiency and unreadiness.
The Balkan forces advanced rapidly into Turkish territory. On Oct. 19 a Bulgarian army of over 300,000 men occupied Mustapha Pasha, and Kirk-Kilis- BALKAN WARS seh on Oct. 24. Adrianople was surrounded by Oct. 27 and continued in a state of siege thenceforward. The Bulgarian army on Oct. 29 won the bloody battle of Lule Burgas, which was the chief engagement of the war. resulted in the utter defeat of the Turkish armies with a loss of over 35,000 It men. The Turks now retreated te Tchorlu and then fell back behind the strong. Tchatalja forts, the last line of defensives at Constantinople. The Bulgarian attempts to carry this line failed. On Nov. 13 the Turks opened negotiations for armistice, but their terms were rejected on Nov. 20. Five days later, however, a meeting was arranged between Bulgarian and Turkish commanders. These resulted in the preparation of a protocol for an armistice to last until the end of peace negotiations.
The Serbians also obtained quick success over the Turkish armies. This campaign ended in the capture of Durazzo. In the meantime the Greeks , under the leadership of Crown Prince Constantine, had invaded Macedonia and won a number of easy successes. Saloniki was captured on Nov. 8. Entrance of Bulgarian and Serbian troops into the city on the following day gave evidence of jealousy among the Allies. The Greek Government declined to agree to the armistice terms and continued operations on land and sea. During the autumn and winter the Greeks captured the Ægean Islands not already occupied by Italy. The Montenegrin army met with successes and defeated Turkish forces in several encounters.
During the progress of hostilities, representatives of the Great Powers had continued their efforts in behalf of peace.
The chief difficulty was found with the members of the Triple Alliance, especially Austria, which was hostile to any movement which would give Serbia a port on the Adriatic, or would cut off Austria-Hungary from the road to Saloniki. It was finally agreed that representatives of the Powers should confer in London and such a conference was held. Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Turkey sent delegates to this conference.
Greece insisted on being represented also, although she was still carrying on war against Turkey. Turkey refused to yield the territorial demands of the Allies and hostilities were resumed in Feb. 3, 1913. The Turks again sustained a number of defeats. The Great Powers again on March 1 offered mediation and two weeks later the Balkan Allies accepted.
After a long deliberation Turkey agreed to accept the lines laid down by the Allies, leaving for future discussion other BALKH questions, including the indemnity. A second armistice was signed on April 19, 1913, by all the belligerents except Montenegro which persisted in carrying on hostilities, capturing Scutari on April 23. Following this Montenegro acceded to the armistice. The second conference was held in London and the Balkan diplomats came to an agreement late in 'May, 1913. As a result of the agreement made, the Ottoman Empire was deprived of all her European possessions except Constantinople and a small tract of land east of the Maritza river.
The question of the division of the spoils at once arose among the Allies.
Bulgaria claimed the greater part of Macedonia, to which also a claim was made by Serbia. Greece insisted upon retaining both Saloniki and Kavala, which had been occupied by her troops.
Rumania, which had not joined the other Balkan nations, insisted upon "a strategic frontier" and for compensation for preserving neutrality during the war. The Bulgarian Government, encouraged by Austria-Hungary, made a sudden offensive against the Greeks and Serbians on June 30. On July 10 Rumania began hostilities, and the Turks, taking advantage of the discord among her enemies, advanced toward Adrianople. The Bulgarian armies were quickly defeated against these odds. Adrianople was captured by the Turks, and the Serbians and Montenegrins won quick success over the Bulgarian forces. King Ferdinand, in the face of these calamities, asked for peace. The Treaty of Bucharest followed which was signed on Aug. 6. By its terms Rumania secured important extension of her frontier. Bulgaria was obliged to yield an extensive area to Serbia and to Greece. She was also obliged to yield Adrianople to Turkey.
The bitter feeling which resulted from this brief campaign, and the resentment felt by Bulgaria toward Greece and the other Balkan nations, were a large factor in determining her entrance into the World War on the side of Germany, rather than that of the Entente nations.
BALKH (bālG), a district of Afghan Turkestan, the most northerly province of Afghanistan. It was for some time subject to the Khan of Bokhara. It corresponds to ancient Bactria, and is bounded on the N. by the river Oxus, on the E. by Badakhshan, on the S. by the Hindu Kush, and on the W. by the desert. Offsets of the Hindu Kush traverse it in a N. W. direction, and slope down to the low steppes of Bokhara. Its area is about 5,000 square miles. The soil has the general characteristics of a BALL desert land; only a few parts are made fertile by artificial irrigation; and such are the vicissitudes of climate, that where grapes and apricots ripen in summer, and the mulberry tree permits the cultivation of silk, in winter the frost is intense, and the snow lies deep on the ground. The natives are Uzbegs.