le line from Doiran
to the west of the Vardar." As it retreated the Bulgarian army was
burning supplies and destroying ammunition dumps, burning railway
stations and ravaging the country.

By this time it was felt throughout the Allied world that the Bulgarian
defeat would have important political consequences. It was remembered
that a short time before King Ferdinand had paid a visit to Germany, and
after long conferences with the German War Lord, had hastily returned to
Bulgaria. It was recalled that there had been many signs of serious
disorder in Bulgaria, where the Socialist party had been in close touch
with the advance parties in the Ukrainian Republic. It seemed possible
that the Bulgarian defeats had been brought about by Bulgarian
dissension and it was also evident that Germany was in no position to
offer effective support to its Bulgarian accomplice.

As the days passed by the news from this front became more and more
favorable. At all points the Bulgarian armies were retreating in the
most disorderly manner, closely pursued by the Serbians, French,
English, Italians, and Greeks. Bulgarian troops were deserting in
thousands, and thousands of others were surrendering without resistance.

On September 26th it was announced that the Bulgar front had
disappeared; that the armies had been cut into a number of groups and
were fleeing before the Allied troops. Town after town was being
captured, with enormous quantities of stores. On Friday, September 27th,
it was announced that Bulgaria had asked the Allies for an armistice of
forty-eight hours, with a view to making peace.

The situation was now causing intense excitement. The Germans tried to
minimize the Bulgarian surrender. A dispatch from Berlin declared that
Premier Malinoff's offer of an armistice was made without the support of
other members of the Cabinet or of King Ferdinand, and that Germany
would make a solemn protest against it. German newspapers were demanding
that Malinoff be dismissed immediately and court-martialed for high
treason. The Berlin message asserted that the Premier's offer had
created great dissatisfaction in Bulgaria and that strong military
measures had been taken to support the Bulgarian front. According to
statements from Sofia it was added a counter-movement against the action
of the Premier had already been set on foot. It was declared in Germany
that the Premier's act was the result of Germany's refusal to send
sufficient rei