The Greeks were in a difficult position. It was not unnatural that King
Constantine and the Greek General Staff believed that the Allies had
small chance of victory. Moreover, they had no special ambitions which
could be satisfied by a war against the Central Powers. On the other
hand, Turkey was an hereditary enemy, and the big sea coast would put
them at the mercy of the British navy in case they should join their
fortunes to those of Austro-Germany. To an impartial observer their
policy of neutrality, if not heroic, was at least wise. The Greek
Government, therefore, did its best to preserve neutrality. The
surrender of Fort Rupel was not, however, a neutral act and roused in
Greece a strong popular protest.

Venizelos, who at all times was strongly friendly to the Allies and who
was the one great Greek statesman who not only believed in their
ultimate victory but who saw that the true interests of Greece were in
Anatolia and the Islands of the AEgean, was strongly opposed to King
Constantine's action. The Allies showed their resentment by a pacific
blockade, to prevent the export of coal to Greece, with the object of
preventing supplies from reaching the enemy. This led to a certain
amount of excitement and the Allied embassies in Athens were insulted by
mobs. The governments, therefore, presented an ultimatum commanding the
demobilization of the Greek army, the appointment of a neutral Ministry,
and the calling of a new election for the Greek Chamber of Deputies, as
well as the proper punishment of those who were guilty of the disorder.

In substance, the Greeks yielded to the Allied demand, but before a new
election could be held an attack by the Bulgarians on the 17th of August
changed the situation. The Bulgarian armies entered deep in Greek
territory in the eastern provinces and captured the city of Kavalla
without resistance from the armies of Greece. A portion of the Greek
army at Kavalla surrendered and was taken to Germany as "guests" of the
German Government.

This action of the Greek army led to a Greek revolution which broke out
at Saloniki on the 30th of August. The King pursued a tortuous policy,
professing neutrality and yet constantly bringing himself under
suspicion. The Revolutionists organized an army and finally M.
Venizelos, after strong efforts to induce the King to act, became the
head of the Provisional Government of the Revolutionists. The Allies
pursued a policy almost as tortuous as th