Rise of Australia

Chapter 314

If you want to talk about the first major event in 1912, it must be the compromise of the British Empire in warship construction.

Although the modification of the naval program was not fanfare, the sudden cancellation of plans by some shipyards in the British Empire still attracted the attention of the British and European media, especially the Germans.

At first, everyone thought that the British were going to hold back their big move. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, there was no news from these shipyards that canceled the shipbuilding task. Compromised.

For the German Empire, this is probably the best news of the second decade of the 20th century.

If the crazy construction plan of the British is really followed, the High Seas Fleet will never be the opponent of the Royal Fleet.

Moreover, Germany also has the potential of the army, and it is impossible to use all the defense budget to build the navy.

It is also impossible for the Germans to be so stupid as to abolish their martial arts. As the world's number one army power, they gave up the expansion of the army.

The German media trumpeted that Britain's retreat was due to the fear and incompetence of the continuous expansion of Germany's military strength, and proudly announced that the German Empire was about to usher in another great victory.

Just as the situation in Europe was changing suddenly due to Britain's retreat, a war was quietly being planned in a region of Europe.

The Balkan region has a special location, where not only the interests of Russia, but also the interests of the Austro-Hungarian Empire exist.

Even Italy, Britain, Germany and other big powers also have considerable interests in this area.

The Balkan Peninsula is located at the junction of the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is the only way for Europe to reach the Middle East and the Near East. It has a very important geographical location.

Constantinople, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, even controls the junction of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and also determines whether the Russian Black Sea Fleet can go to the Mediterranean Sea and eventually enter the ocean.

In addition, the internal strategic resources of the Balkan Peninsula are very rich, and they are naturally competed by major powers.

This small peninsula also has a large number of ethnic groups.The languages, cultures, religious beliefs and customs of these ethnic groups are not the same and conflict with each other.

The Balkan Peninsula has almost become the gathering point of various contradictions before the World War, not only the contradictions among the European powers - the contradiction between Germany, Austria and Russia, the contradiction between Britain and Germany, the contradiction between Austria and Italy, the contradiction between Britain and Russia, but also the contradiction between nations, That is, the contradictions between the Balkan nations and the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire.

In addition, the contradictions among the ethnic groups in the Balkans are also an important reason for the rather unstable situation in the Balkans. These various contradictions are overlapping and intricate, making this region a famous powder keg in Europe.

The Ottoman Turkish Empire performed very poorly in the war with the Kingdom of Italy, which also accelerated the formation of the Balkan Alliance and prepared for the war.

Although the goals of the countries participating in the Balkan Alliance are not the same, they have a common enemy, that is, the Ottoman Turkish Empire that enslaved this area.

The member states of the Balkan League consist of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Greece, and the Kingdom of Montenegro.The most important of these, and the most powerful alliance of the two nations, was the Treaty of Alliance between Serbia and Bulgaria.

According to the alliance treaty signed by Serbia and Bulgaria, it is agreed that if one of the two countries is invaded by one or more countries, the other party has the responsibility to provide full support.

Moreover, the two sides also made arrangements for the timing of launching the war against Turkey and the issue of carve-up of Turkey. It was agreed that Russia should be notified first when war was adopted, and that any disputes between the two countries should also be submitted to Russia for arbitration.

It can be seen from the alliance treaty established between Serbia and Bulgaria that Russia is trying to establish hegemony over the Slavic countries and become the arbiter of all issues in the Balkans.

Use this method to control Constantinople, the only strait that allows the Black Sea Fleet to go to the Mediterranean.

When French Prime Minister Poincaré learned of the treaty between Serbia and Bulgaria for the first time, he couldn't help exclaiming: "This is a treaty prepared for war!"

After that, he once commented on this treaty in his notes: "This treaty not only contains the seeds of war against the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but also contains the seeds of war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He further established Russia's war against the Slavic countries. Hegemony, because under the terms of this treaty, Russia will be the arbiter of all issues in the region."

More than six months have passed since the establishment of the Balkan League.In the past six months, the Balkan Allied countries have carried out a large-scale military expansion, and its purpose is self-evident.

In February 1912, Bulgaria issued an ultimatum to the Ottoman Turkish Empire, demanding that Turkey allow the Macedonian region autonomy.

At this time, Turkey was exhausted domestically due to the war with Italy, but refused to back down, so it decided to ignore Bulgaria's plan and delay as much as possible.

What happened in the Balkans quickly aroused the attention and vigilance of the major European powers.

Because the importance of this area is too high, European countries are unwilling to lose their interests in this area.

Almost all the big powers have expressed concern about this, but the attitude of all the big powers is also the same, that is, to sit back and watch the development of the situation in the Balkans.

For the European powers, if they don't come to the most critical moment, they will make themselves inferior.

No one knows whether the fire in the Balkans will burn themselves. This is naturally unacceptable to European powers that are not fully prepared for war.

At this time, the major European powers, like the people who eat melons, are quietly but very expectant, waiting for the development of the situation in the Balkans.

After Turkey did not make any statement, Serbia, another Balkan power, also stood up and asked Turkey to recognize the autonomy of the Macedonian region and compensate for the previous oppression among the various ethnic groups in the Balkans.

The two most powerful countries have expressed their views, and the remaining Balkan alliance countries are naturally impossible to sit idle.

On February 2th, Greece and Mendinegro successively expressed their stance, asking Turkey to recognize the autonomy of the Macedonian region, and specifically stated that if there is no reply within a week, it will be regarded as a rejection of the offer.

This ultimatum specifically stating the time can also be seen as the Balkan countries are making final preparations.

On February 2, after a week of continued silence by the Ottoman Turkish government, the Bulgarian government announced a nationwide military mobilization.

Only one day later, on February 2, the Serbian government, the Greek government and the Montenegrin government also successively announced the general mobilization of military forces across the country.

Beginning on February 2, the troops of the Balkan Alliance countries began to gather at the Turkish border, and various weapons, ammunition, and equipment were also quickly transported to the front line.

The Turkish side also had to follow suit to mobilize troops in the European region, and at the same time ask the European powers as much as possible about their attitudes.

But to the disappointment of the Turkish government, apart from verbal sympathy and support, the European powers did not take any practical actions to keep both sides calm.

On February 2th, a day that can only be met once every four years, the Balkan Alliance army and the Turkish army clashed on the border for the first time. Dozens of people were killed and injured on both sides, which also marked the arrival of the war.

On March 1912, 3, the Kingdom of Bulgaria took the lead in declaring war on Turkey.Then, on March 1, Montenegro declared war on the Turkish government.Then Serbia, Greece, and the Balkans broke out in full swing.

According to the agreement in the previous Balkan Alliance Treaty, Bulgaria sent 30 troops, Serbia 22, Greece 11.5, and Montenegro 3.5, for a total of 67 troops.

As for Turkey, although there are not many Turkish troops, due to the restraint of the Italian-Turkish war, the maximum number of troops that can be dispatched is only about 35.

The disparity in the strength of the two sides is very large. In addition, the Balkan countries have prepared for this war for a long time, but Turkey is more exhausted because of the consumption of the Italian-Turkish war. As a result, the attacks of the Balkan countries are almost unstoppable. .

In the direction of attack, Bulgaria, which sent the most troops, chose to go south, occupying eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and attacking Constantinople.

Serbia, on the other hand, chose to go south and occupy the North Macedonian region to expand its own territory, and also to fight for an outlet to the sea for itself.

Although Serbia has the ambition to rise, it wants to establish a large Slavic Serbia state.

But if you want to become a powerful country, the most important thing is to have an outlet to the sea.Before, Serbia was a completely landlocked country with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the north, Romania and Bulgaria in the east, Montenegro in the west, and Turkey in the south.

The main purpose of expanding south this time is to obtain an outlet to the sea.

Greece, located in the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula, naturally expanded northward and recovered the South Macedonian region.

As for Montenegro, which is the weakest, they don't have many choices, they can only expand slightly to the east. After all, the strength of the country is also doomed for them to swallow up much land.

In fact, it can be seen from the direction of the troops sent by various countries that their purpose is definitely not to promote Macedonia's autonomy, but to divide Macedonia into three countries.

Bulgaria and Greece will gain more territory, Serbia will gain access to the sea, and Montenegro will expand in a small area.

Because of the superiority in numbers and equipment, plus the advantage of taking the lead, the expansion of several countries went smoothly, and even in just a few weeks, the territory of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in Europe was reduced by more than half.

In the expansion of these countries, Britain supported Greece and Russia supported Serbia.

But at the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had conflicts with Serbia, was paying attention to Serbia's expansion, and they did not allow a threatening enemy to appear by their side.

With the development of the war, the eyes of the great powers came to the direction of Bulgaria's attack.

To say that Turkey is the most important region in the Balkan Peninsula, it is naturally Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

In terms of history, Constantinople was the capital of the former Eastern Roman Empire, that is, the Byzantine Empire. It has thousands of years of history and culture, and it is also one of the holy places in the hearts of Orthodox Christians.

The importance of Constantinople is self-evident. It is not only a bridge connecting the European and Asian parts of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but also controls the connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

On the outskirts of Constantinople, the Turkish Empire deployed a military fortress to defend its capital.

Adrianople, this is one of the most solid military fortresses in the European part of the Turkish Empire, and it is also the iron wall second only to the capital Constantinople.

After the war broke out, the Turkish government deliberately mobilized some Albanian and Macedonian troops to garrison Adrianople in Thrace.

It was the outpost of Bulgaria and the Balkans towards Constantinople and the last line of defense for the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

If Adrianople is conquered, Thrace will be completely flat, and the enemy's army will soon reach Constantinople.

In order to capture this important military town, Bulgaria mobilized an entire army group to surround the town, and its ambition to occupy Constantinople is self-evident.

The rapid expansion of the Balkan countries made the Turkish government very afraid, so it quickly recalled the European powers to ask for mediation.

You must know that the strategic position of the Black Sea Strait is very important, and it has always been a battleground for military strategists.

For this strait, several wars and crises have broken out in history, and this time is no exception.

Because of the massive offensive of the Bulgarian army, not surprisingly, a new Strait crisis broke out.

On March 3, only half a month after the start of the war, the Bulgarian army was only 20 miles away from Constantinople, which is already a very dangerous distance.

As the Bulgarian army launched an attack on Adrianople, Britain and France also sent troops to the Black Sea Strait.

The intervention of the great powers suddenly made the situation in the Balkans even more tense.

Russia did not dare to be careless, ordered the Black Sea Fleet to be on combat readiness, and privately advised the Bulgarian army to stop its offensive.

But at this time, Russia's persuasion could no longer stop Bulgaria, which was a little crazy because of its easy victory.

The Bulgarian side sent more troops to Adrianople, as if they would not return Constantinople.

Just as Britain and France decided to take the next step, Bulgaria, which was dazzled by the victory, lost its footing.

On March 1912, 3, after capturing Adbia Fort, the Bulgarian army continued to attack Constantinople, but was successfully ambushed by the Turkish army and blocked from Constantinople.

The offensive of the Bulgarian army came to a standstill, even though it was very close to Constantinople, it still could not advance an inch.

The failure of the Bulgarian army, on the contrary, relieved Russia, which originally supported Bulgaria, and made Britain and France decide to wait and see for the time being and stop their actions.

The security of Constantinople can be guaranteed for the time being, and the crisis in the Strait has gradually eased, and it has not turned into a new round of international crisis.

Although the attack on Constantinople failed, the Bulgarian army's attack on East Macedonia and Thrace went very smoothly.

At the end of March, the Albanian region publicly declared its independence and will separate from the Ottoman Turkish Empire to establish a completely independent national government.

Since then, almost all of Turkey's land in Europe has been lost, leaving only some small land and strongholds struggling to support it.

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(End of this chapter)