At this critical juncture, a piece of news that struck fear into the hearts of Bulgarians arrived: Osman had declared war on Bulgaria. The commander leading the Ottoman forces was none other than Enver Pasha, a prominent figure among the trio known as the Young Turks and the then-chief of the Ottoman General Staff. His decision was bolstered by the strategic insights of General Otto Liman von Sanders, head of the German advisory group. Together, they had crafted a military plan to enter the war.
Bulgaria, previously renowned for its formidable strength, found itself in a precarious position. The plan, while meticulously crafted, remained theoretical under the current circumstances. However, the significant losses Bulgaria suffered in the Battle of Tarnovo shifted the dynamics. Enver Pasha, seizing the opportunity, aimed to recapture the strategic fortress of Adrianople and push the Bulgarian forces further from Istanbul. Consequently, on July 23, Osman formally declared war on Bulgaria. Following this declaration, a massive contingent of 300,000 Ottoman troops departed from Istanbul and Sarkoy, swiftly taking control of Corlu and Tekirdag in Eastern Thrace.
Confronted by the overwhelming Ottoman force, the Bulgarian troops, numbering less than 20,000 in the region, had no choice but to retreat to the fortress city of Adrianople. They hoped to hold out in the fortress they had previously breached, while simultaneously sending urgent requests for reinforcements to Sofia. But with Bulgaria under attack from multiple fronts, the possibility of additional support was bleak. In these dire circumstances, the notion of seeking peace increasingly occupied the thoughts of the Bulgarian leadership.
The following day, as the Bulgarian army retreated to Jabranica, King Ferdinand I convened a critical meeting at his residence with key figures: Lieutenant General Savov, Secretary of the Army; Prime Minister Geschoff, also serving as the Foreign Minister; and Tirasloch, the Defense Minister who had traveled from Sofia. King Ferdinand I, seated at the head of the table, surveyed the grave faces of his advisors. Prime Minister Geschoff, his hair silvered with age, sat to his left, while Lieutenant General Savov, his expression somber, was on his right. Tirasloch, the Defense Minister, sat next to the Prime Minister, his gaze downturned.
A heavy silence filled the room, the air thick with the weight of impending decisions. Finally, King Ferdinand I broke the silence, his voice tinged with the gravity of their dire situation.
"What should we do under these circumstances?" he inquired solemnly.
Lieutenant General Savov glanced towards Prime Minister Geschoff, clearly deferring to him for an initial response. Foreign Minister Tirasloch also looked towards Geschoff, indicating that the Prime Minister should lead their deliberations.
Feeling the weight of his colleagues' expectations, Prime Minister Geschoff reluctantly began, "Your Majesty, our chances of winning this war are nonexistent. Our best course of action is to seek mediation through Germany and Austria-Hungary and to request a ceasefire from all belligerents involved."
As he mentioned the ceasefire, it seemed as though he had expended his last reserves of energy. Slumping back into his chair, Prime Minister Geschoff appeared thoroughly deflated. Observing his weary state, King Ferdinand I decided not to press him further and instead turned his attention to Lieutenant General Savov.
The Lieutenant General, now under the King's direct gaze, gathered his thoughts before speaking, "I concur with the Prime Minister. Our military is drastically reduced to merely 330,000 troops. Following the Battle of Tarnovo, we are critically low on ammunition and support weapons, most of which were destroyed. We are incapable of holding off the enemy on all fronts. A ceasefire would mitigate further losses."
To bolster his argument, Lieutenant General Savov provided an update on the various fronts. "The situation with Romania is well known, so I will not dwell on that. However, I must inform you about the developments in Greece. Three days ago, under King Constantine's command, they breached the defenses of our Second Army. They are now nearing Thessaloniki. Without reinforcements, our forces there won't withstand the 50,000-strong Greek army."
The room remained silent as the gravity of their situation sank in. Savov continued, detailing the challenges in Macedonia, "Serbia has intensified their offensive. Marshal Putnik leads their forces, pushing into Macedonian territory. Our Third Army has retreated to the Kocani area. Most of Macedonia, which we previously held, has been reclaimed by Serbia. It seems they aim to secure at least half of Macedonia before considering negotiations."
Turning his focus to the direst threat, Savov concluded, "The most critical situation is in Eastern Thrace. Our 20,000 troops stationed there stand no chance against the 300,000 Ottoman soldiers. Despite their efforts to destroy roads and slow the enemy's advance, the effect has been minimal. The Ottoman forces are rapidly approaching Lule Bourgaz, merely 20 kilometers from Adrianople. They could reach the fortress in a week, and holding it is virtually impossible."
King Ferdinand I, well aware of the dire straits on all fronts, had convened this meeting not just to hear these reports but to appoint a negotiator for peace talks. His preferred candidate was Prime Minister Geschoff, whose position lent him sufficient authority to negotiate on Bulgaria's behalf. Aware of the King's intentions, Prime Minister Geschoff had prepared himself for this role before leaving Sofia. Despite the reluctance to cede any power, he recognized that no better candidate than himself was available.
Agreeing with the course of action outlined by Lieutenant General Savov, King Ferdinand I affirmed, "Then we shall proceed as the Prime Minister suggests."
He then turned to the somewhat overlooked Foreign Minister Tirasloch, "Foreign Minister, this task will fall to you."
Foreign Minister Tirasloch, seizing the moment to assert his role, quickly stood and responded, "For Bulgaria, I will face no troubles at all."
King Ferdinand I nodded, outlining the next steps, "We will first issue a request for a ceasefire to the warring nations, then seek the support of Austria-Hungary and Germany to endorse our proposal and persuade the other countries to cease hostilities. Do you think this is feasible?"
Prime Minister Geschoff, contemplating the implications of his impending negotiation and his likely resignation thereafter, replied thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, I believe all except the Ottoman Empire will accept this proposal."
Foreign Minister Tirasloch, concerned about the immediate threats, inquired, "How shall we then handle the Ottoman advance?"
Lieutenant General Savov answered on behalf of the military, "That's straightforward. If the other nations agree to a ceasefire, I assure you the Ottomans will not dare to advance alone."
"Then let it be so," concluded King Ferdinand I decisively.
With the strategy set, the secret meeting adjourned, and Foreign Minister Tirasloch promptly disseminated the news of Bulgaria's plea for peace.
In the recently captured city of Norwich, Crown Prince Edel convened a high-level military meeting with key figures including the Army Minister General Courtois, Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Prieshan, and other senior generals. The urgent topic on the agenda was the consideration of Bulgaria's plea for a ceasefire.
Inside the command center, Crown Prince Edel presided over the meeting from a prominent position, observing the assembly of generals who were ready to debate the merits of Bulgaria's request. The room buzzed with the energy of anticipation and conflicting opinions.
Lieutenant General Andrew, commander of the Second Army, was the first to express his views. Standing assertively, he addressed the crown prince and his fellow officers, "The Bulgarian army lacks the strength to continue opposing us. Why should we agree to their armistice? We have the capability to push forward to Sofia and compel Ferdinand I to accept our terms for peace."
Edel listened carefully to Andrew, who likely voiced the prevailing sentiment of the general staff, mostly composed of officers promoted by Edel himself. They were eager for military glory and reluctant to end the campaign without tangible achievements to bolster their reputations.
However, Lieutenant General Salamik of the Third Army presented a contrasting perspective. Rising to speak, he stated, "I respectfully disagree with Lieutenant General Andrew. Even if we were to capture Sofia, the terms we could realistically impose are already at Bulgaria's limits. This would disproportionately benefit other nations at our expense. We would essentially be winning battles for others, not for ourselves. Therefore, I believe accepting the Bulgarian ceasefire is in our best interest."
Salamik's argument prompted murmurs among the gathered generals. Edel found himself agreeing with Salamik's rationale. The crown prince was acutely aware of Romania's limited resources, having been shocked by the military's consumption in the previous Battle of Tarnovo where fifteen thousand tons of ammunition were expended—a stark contrast to the typical expenditure in past operations.
Seeing that the tide of opinion might be turning against continued aggression, Lieutenant General Prieshan felt compelled to interject. After a strategic cough to gather his thoughts and command silence, he stood and addressed the assembly. "Your Highness, I believe it is premature to accept Bulgaria's armistice proposal."
Edel, respecting Prieshan's role as his military representative, prompted him to elaborate, "And what do you propose, Lieutenant General Prieshan?"
"We should persist in our military campaign to decisively weaken Bulgaria's forces," Prieshan argued. "This will prevent them from resuming hostilities under unfavorable terms in the future."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence as they considered Prieshan's point, which clearly reflected a more aggressive military stance, focusing solely on tactical advantages without regard for broader strategic or diplomatic consequences.
It was then that the Secretary of the Army, Admiral Courtois, chose to speak. Known for his measured approach and seldom seen at the forefront of discussions during the war, his intervention carried weight. "We must consider not only the immediate outcomes of this war but also the future relationship with Bulgaria," he stated, then quietly resumed his seat, his point hanging in the air for consideration.
Admiral Courtois' words resonated with Edel, reminding him of the broader geopolitical landscape. With the looming onset of World War I, maintaining manageable relations with Bulgaria could prove strategically beneficial, preventing the need to manage hostility on multiple fronts.
After reflecting on the various inputs, Crown Prince Edel made his decision. He silenced a reiterating Prieshan with a gesture and declared, "Having considered all perspectives, I have decided to accept the Bulgarian request for a ceasefire. Effective immediately, our forces will cease military operations."
He then added operational details, "Our troops will remain in position pending the outcome of negotiations. I will return to Bucharest with General Prieshan to oversee the talks, and Admiral Courtois will assume temporary command of our forces in Bulgaria."
The decision made, Prieshan's expression flickered with disappointment, quickly masked. Edel, noticing but not commenting, instead expressed confidence in Admiral Courtois, "Admiral, I trust you will manage our forces prudently until further notice."
The following day, Romania formally responded to Bulgaria's armistice request, signaling agreement and simultaneously informing Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro of the decision. With Romania's agreement, the other Balkan states had little choice but to follow suit. Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff Enver, leading the charge against the Ottoman forces, regretfully ceased his advance, now just 50 kilometers from the Adriatic Fort.
Thus, the potential second Balkan War slated to begin on July 30 was averted, ending with Bulgaria's strategic defeat and setting the stage for diplomatic negotiations where each nation would vie for advantageous terms.