Upon receiving a distressing telegram from Russia, Bulgarian Minister Geishov was immediately alarmed by its contents. Without wasting a moment, he rushed to present the message to King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. The news from Russia infuriated King Ferdinand, his roar echoing through the halls of the palace. Observing his king's wrath, Geishov maintained his composure and addressed him, "Your Majesty, our foremost priority should now be to seek support from other nations."
As the words sank in, Ferdinand began to calm down, realizing that anger alone would not reclaim the lost territories of Macedonia's Bitola and Ohrid regions, now under Serbian and Greek control, or the Salonika region in Thrace. The situation demanded the backing of other major powers to restore the lands rightfully belonging to Bulgaria. With Russia's recent actions, their options to counteract were limited, but Ferdinand remembered that his homeland could still hold its own against Russian might. Mulling over this, he inquired, "Geschoff, do you think we can secure support from Austria-Hungary and Germany?"
Geschoff pondered the king's question. Given the national strengths, both Austria-Hungary and Germany could indeed bolster Bulgaria. He recalled a time when Bulgaria enjoyed favorable relations with these nations before Russia's influence had swayed them. Now, with Russia failing to protect Bulgarian interests, it was pragmatic to reconnect with Austria-Hungary and Germany. "Your Majesty, your approach is feasible. We can gauge the stance of Austria-Hungary and Germany through our ambassadors," Geschoff suggested.
Following their discussion, Geschoff contacted the German Ambassador Berist and the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador Sindrako, outlining Bulgaria's hope for support from their respective countries. The German government, recognizing Bulgaria's strategic importance and military prowess demonstrated in the Balkan Wars, responded with enthusiasm. With allies scant in number—Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary being the primary members—Bulgaria's alliance was highly valued. Kaiser Wilhelm II directly intervened, sending a telegram to Bulgaria expressing his readiness to support the territorial disputes in the Balkans and offering military assistance worth 50,000 marks.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was even more attentive to Bulgaria's situation. Emperor Franz Joseph convened his ministers to strategize on Bulgaria's overture. With Serbia having expanded its territory significantly following the Balkan Wars, Austria-Hungary was eager to find a counterbalance. Initially, they considered Romania, given a matrimonial alliance, but Romania's brief border with Serbia and its recent neutrality posed challenges in inciting any significant discord between the two. Thus, Bulgaria, with its proven military capabilities and shared border with Serbia, emerged as an attractive ally.
"Your Majesty, I believe it is imperative we offer Bulgaria the diplomatic support it urgently needs," stated Foreign Minister Erenthal, a key figure in the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With no objections from other ministers, he continued, "Alongside diplomatic support, we should also escalate tensions along the Serbian border to demonstrate our commitment to aiding Bulgaria."
Emperor Franz Joseph agreed with Erenthal's proposal. When the discussion turned to military support, Chief of Staff Otto Sanders of the Austro-Hungarian 6th Army spoke up, suggesting a joint military operation with Bulgaria against Serbia could decisively address the troublemaker. Emperor Franz Joseph, intrigued, asked for details.
Sanders explained the strategic plan: "Our General Staff has prepared to deploy 30,000 troops from the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Armies stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina towards Belgrade. The Serbian capital, lightly defended in comparison to their forces engaged in Macedonia, would be vulnerable. Capturing Belgrade would likely cause the Serbian forces to collapse, simplifying the resolution of the Bulgarian issue. We could then facilitate Bulgarian control over new Serbian territories, requiring only the original Serbian lands in return."
However, Foreign Secretary Erenthal raised concerns about Russia's potential reaction to an attack on Serbia. Sanders reassured that the First, Third, Sixth, and Seventh Armies would be positioned to counter any Russian offensive.
Despite the detailed plan, Alois, another high-ranking official, expressed strong reservations, warning that attacking Serbia might provoke a swift Russian declaration of war, a risk too great for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Emperor Franz Joseph, considering the potential consequences, decided to prioritize less aggressive support, focusing on creating border tensions as a show of solidarity with Bulgaria.
Subsequently, both Austria-Hungary and Germany dispatched telegrams to Bulgaria, affirming their support. Germany pledged diplomatic and military aid, while Austria-Hungary committed to escalating tensions along the Serbian border to alleviate pressure on Bulgaria. This robust international backing bolstered Bulgarian resolve and rapidly led to the fragmentation of the erstwhile Balkan alliance.
Amidst the rising tensions in the Balkans, the media in Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece were more animated than their respective governments. Serbian newspapers ignited the initial flames by suggesting that Bulgaria, which had gained the most from the Balkan War, should cede some territory to compensate Serbia and Greece for their losses in Albania. This sparked outrage among nationalistic societies in the Balkans.
In response, Bulgarian newspapers politely refuted these claims, arguing that Bulgaria's territorial gains were just rewards for its significant military sacrifices, which included the highest number of casualties. They also pointed out that Serbia and Greece occupied regions—Bitola and Ohrid in Serbia, and Salonika in Greece—that rightfully belonged to Bulgaria.
The Greek media joined the fray, accusing Bulgaria of being self-centered and indifferent to the plight of its allies. This media war highlighted a clear pattern: Serbian and Greek outlets predominantly targeted Bulgaria, with relatively few reciprocal accusations from the Bulgarian side.
Amidst this media frenzy, the governments of the three countries remained largely uninvolved, leading to a widespread perception that the Balkan Alliance was disintegrating. Each nation seemed poised to pursue its own interests aggressively. The situation escalated as Serbia and Greece began expelling Bulgarian teachers, priests, and residents from the Macedonian territories they controlled. Bulgaria retaliated, and armed conflicts erupted in several areas.
In the Bulgarian palace, King Ferdinand I was briefed on the situation by his Army Secretary, Lieutenant General Mikhail Savov. The general reported an incident in a small village called Hasci, located along the control line between Serbia and Bulgaria. A confrontation had started when a Bulgarian soldier intervened to stop Serbs from expelling Bulgarian citizens from the village. This skirmish quickly escalated into a larger conflict between the Serbian and Bulgarian forces, with casualties on both sides and both governments unable to find a diplomatic way out.
King Ferdinand I realized that the public's anger needed an outlet; if not directed at Serbia, it would turn against him. He decided to prepare for military action and inquired about the army's readiness. Lieutenant General Savov emphasized the need for more ammunition and better equipment, particularly advocating for additional Madsen machine guns and cannons.
The Madsen machine gun, weighing 9.07 kg, had proven more effective in the mountainous Balkan terrain than the heavier Maxim gun. It could advance with the infantry, providing timely support during charges.
King Ferdinand I assured the general that he would address the army's needs and summoned Prime Minister Geschoff to discuss the financial aspects of military procurement. The Prime Minister reported that Bulgaria could allocate funds from Romanian and German military assistance, along with some government reserves, totaling approximately 11 million levs.
Lieutenant General Savov detailed the specific military needs: field guns, mountain cannons, Madsen and Maxim machine guns, and millions of rounds of ammunition. The Prime Minister promised to expedite the arms purchases, particularly stressing the importance of timely delivery from Germany and Romania.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Geschoff returned to his office and instructed Foreign Minister Dilas Roche to urgently send telegrams to Germany and Romania for the procurement of arms. Germany responded promptly, promising delivery within half a month. There was, however, no immediate response from Romania.
The situation in the Balkans remained tense, with Bulgaria preparing for potential conflict and the government working feverishly to ensure the military was adequately equipped. The media continued to stoke nationalistic fervor, reflecting and amplifying the deep divisions and escalating hostilities among the former allies.