New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-08
TRICKED
BY BULGARIA
Ministers Deceived by
Words While Armies Were
Preparing for War.
EY ADMINISTRATIONS SMITH.

Salonica, Oct. 9. Every hour that
passes increases the complication Of
the Balkan situation. The inexplicable
hesitation of the Entente powers 70
make a decision is having the worst
possible effect. If they had conspired
together to further the German cause
hey could not have done better.
The only redeeming feature in the
situation is that Bulgaria seems to have
had the same extraordinary idea OF
the Balkan situation that Germany had
of the European situation at the be-
ginning of the world war.
Just as Berlin was firmly convinced
that England would remain neutral, so
Bulgaria. from Gar Ferdinand TO
the last peasant, was convinced thaV
Greece would not interfere II Bulgaria
attacked her ally. Serbia. But Bulgaria
cene nearer being right than Germany-
do not know what were the sources
Of information of the foreign ministers
regarding the state of mind OF the Bal-
Kan States Of the Entente powers, but
one thing is certain-they were not III
couch with the opinion of the man IN
the street" The whole policy OF the
Allies has been followed by the mass
of the peoples with ever growing
establishment. which has now gwen
Mace TO Indignation, and has done much
70 tie the hands of responsible Balkan
statesmen and produce the prevailing
Hesitation in Greece, Serbia and Ru-
mania.
The spectacle of the statesmen Of the
Allies on their knees before Bulgaria
imploring that state to join their cause
and march on Constantinople, offering
her territory belonging to Serbia,
Greece and Rumania If she would only
kindly dcign TO accept them. has done
nothing 20 advance the cause OF the
Allies with the other Balkan States.
Every courier that arrived in Athens.
Nish or Bucharest from Sofia brought
details of the German Bulgarian prep
arations for that attack on Serbia and
Greece. of the presence of hundreds OF
German officers in Bulgaria openly or
cauizire the Service des etapes' Tor
the coming army, the fact that German
staff officers were worHing all day long
in the Bulgarian War Office, that huge
quantities of food and forage were be
ING purchased by German agents
Bulgaria and concentrated
at various points between Serbia and
the Turkish frontier. and still the min
listers of the Quadruplice went on ne
gotiating with the Sofia government,
which in the opinion OF Balkan states
men was only making fools or them
dragging out negotiations in order to
give Germany time 10 prepare her at
tack.
II is idle TO deny the immense
amount Of harm done TO the cause OF
the Allies. This extraordinary policy
has cooled the enthusiasm OF hundreds
Of thousands Of people IN the Balkans
and has created u belief that divided
counsels prevail
II NAV be that the responsible min
listers in the Balkans were privately
Getting all kinds of satisfactory assur-
ances. but as they were probably
warned 10 keep this completely secret
as far as the masses OF the people
were concerned. hey might as well
never have been given. "A mods as
GOOD as a wink 20 blind horse and
If these assurances were not allowed TO
transpire. as far as the people were
they were nonresident
The good old fetch Of MOI reveal
ing intended military operations may
also have been invoked. But as the
made no secret OF
their intentions the extreme retlcence
Of the Allies is unJustihaole. Any
staff officer of twelve months expert
ence could draw out the plan Of the
initial operations for action in the
Balkans. There are only certain points
whore troops could land. and even
these need not be absolutely speciii, y:
What the Balkan peoples demanded
was 20 be assured that adequate mill.
tary aid would be furnished IN case OF
Bulgarian action the
details Of how, when and where this
would be given could be left to tech
meal men.
The failure to do so and the inverte..
brate nature Of the Balkan policy OF
the Allies have cost the Allies heaVI!y