The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-28
ALLIES COULD NOT
 BID HIGH ENOUGH This Is Why Bulgaria En- tered War With TeutOns MILITARY REVERSES This Had Enormous Influence in Bal kans-If Russians Had Not Been
 Driven Back Bulgars Would
 Still Be Neutral
MILITARY REVERSES

London, October 5.-(SpeciaL) )-Not since the war began has there been such a crisis in British foreign affairs as there exists today. The apparently sud- den participation of Bulgaria on the side of Germany. followed so quickly, and far more unexpectedly, by the defection of Greece, caused a true sensation The immediate result has been a severe at tack on Sir Edward Grey, the veteran statesman, who for 12 years has managed, with ad ted skill and with a success which may perhaps. be best measured by the fact that Sir Edward is more hated by England's enemies than any other Englishman, or, indeed, any other individual in the world
 It must be admitted that the allies have suffered a severe blow in the Bal kans. The situation has gone to pieces in the near east in a most embarras- sing and dangerous manner. Critics of the present government in London have come out in the open; they are striking has been almost a paragon in interna- tional statesmanship. In certain quar- ters his retirement is demanded. The criticism arises from two things: First, sense of keen disappointment over the triumph, for triumph it is of the German ic powers in Bulgaria; second, the outcry from those who seek to bring about a change in government here particularly those who demand conscription, the cam ;e,, far xxyl,i is and who believe that Sir Edward Grey is one of their most formidable opponents in the cabinet as doubtless he is.
 Outline of Situation
 From a source which may be consid- cred unimpeaohable, I am fortunate. l think, in being able to present brief outline of the situation which confronted the British foreign office in the near east. British. which means allied, diplomacy failed in that part of the world. At the outset of the war in Europe, Tur- key and the Balkan states except Ser via and Montenegro, were neutral To- day Turkey and Bulgaria are on the side of Germany, neither honorably there, in the opinion of the allies. but that matters little in this question of bayo- nets. Roumania and Greece, counted upon to enter the fray if Bulgaria did, remain outside The balance sheet does not look well for the allies, and it Is rot wonderful that there are charges of mismanagement. There is, however, the other side of this great international story.
 From the outset 1t was seen that Bulgaria was the country which must be dealt with. England. working in conjunction with her allies, had in view the establishment and preserva- tion of unity of the Balkan states. She>endeavored to deal with Bulgaria on that basis and even induced Servia to consent to giving up considerable portion of territory to Bulgaria. am told by a diplomat of great knowl- edge that Git soon came to be simply a matter of Balkan unity or bribery In the latter game English statesman ship could not compte with German. England had nothing to promise; Ger : many was ready to give to Bulgaria half of Servia, as much of Turkey as she felt like, and in addition, slice of Greece. German diplomacy had more tools to work with She occupied great areas of Russian territory, which was most impressive, and at the same time the allies, despite a tremendous eff fort, had failed to force the Darda- nelles. It was too much for King Fer have sounded warning against nasty anti ally in that his enemy, Servia, was already one of them, and that Roumania and Greece leaned in the same direction. the temptation was too great and he joined Germany.
 It is described to me that another most important reason for the failure of the allies to make headway In the Balkans was the fact that the allied diplomatic machinery necessarily moved more slowly than the German machine. There was no chance to move quickly. to strike at moments notice. If Sir Edward Grey desired to take certain steps he had to consult three other nations-Russia. France. and Italy. It was cumbersome way Of doing things, but escape from 1t was impossible. and 1t had an import ant bearing on the final result.
 Russians Broke Down
 But the military situation had more than diplomacy, of either brand, to do with the final outcome. It Is becom- ing a well known secret in London that had the Russians not suffered the reverses they did. the whole situa- tion would have been vastly different It is safe to say that were Russia to- day in possession of Cracow, which she once held, Bulgaria would probably not be in the war on the side of Ger many, while Roumania would probably be participating on the side of the allies. Roumanias willingness ebbed and flowed in perfect accord with Rus sian advance and retreat. So, too did Bulgarias attitude vary Again, had the allies forced the Dardanelles the situation would not be the same.
 Sir Edward Grey's friends resent the attacks which are being made upon him. He did all that 1t was hu- manly possible for him to do, they believe, with the material at hand. There were three great things which worked against allied diplomatic suc- cess as shown above. They were:
 Inability to compete with Germany in the bribery of Bulgaria.
 Difficulties co-ordinating tho YiaWa