SERBO-BULGARIAN WAR (1885). The Berlin Congress of 1878, by its revision of the treaty of San Stefano, created two states in the Balkan Peninsula : the principality of Bulgaria, own ing a nominal suzerainty to Turkey, and the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia, presided over by a Turkish governor-general, and apparently intended to remain in close relations with the porte. This settlement ended when the movement for a united Bulgaria culminated (Sept. 1885) in a revolution in the Rumelian capital, Philippopolis. Prince Alexander of Bulgaria, recognizing that the movement was irresistible, placed himself at its head, and, pro ceeding to Philippopolis, formally accepted the government of the united Bulgarian states. As it was assumed that the sultan would reassert his claim by force of arms, the Bulgaro-Rumelian forces were concentrated as rapidly as possible near the Turkish frontier. Prince Alexander, however, had taken the step of acknowledging the sultan's suzerainty; and Turkey was not inclined to begin a war which would probably cause a revolt in Macedonia and might end by rendering Russian influence paramount in Bulgaria. But, while a conference of ambassadors was vainly discussing the situa tion at Constantinople, the Gordian knot was cut by the announce ment that Serbia, seeking compensation for the aggrandizement of Bulgaria, had constituted herself the champion of the treaty of Berlin. King Milan had issued orders for the Serbian army mobili zation on the very day of Prince Alexander's proclamation at Phil ippopolis, and large forces were concentrated (Oct. 1-12) on the Bulgarian frontier. On the 19th the prince ordered troops to the quarter thus threatened, but it seems certain that, whilst in eastern Rumelia every preparation had been made for war, Prince Alexan der had so little expectation of, and wish for, a war with Serbia, that few measures were taken to supply the needs of a field army on that side.
Unlike the Serbian army, which contained few permanent units and consisted mainly of militiamen, the standing army of Bulgaria, trained and commanded by Russian officers since 1877-78, was organized on the German system of filling up relatively strong cadres to war strength and forming additional units. When fully mobilized the field army numbered about 55,000 men. The Rume lian forces (militia) consisted in all of about 35,000 men. Besides
these, there was the "Bandit brigade" of Capt. Panitza, an irregu lar force some 3,00o strong. This force did good service as a flying right wing of the main army. In the Bulgarian army the whole of the staff and superior officers, as well as about half the regimental captains, were Russians. When the mobilization of the Bulgarian and Rumelian forces was decreed the Russian officers were at once withdrawn, and the heavy task of creating a staff and selecting young officers for all the superior commands had to be undertaken in face of the enemy. Moreover, when on Nov. 14, Milan declared war, the Bulgarian forces were mostly far away on the Turkish frontier. The Serbian main army (under King Milan), and the army of the Timok promptly crossed the frontier and soon came in contact with small forces of the enemy. On the Timok little or nothing of importance took place throughout the war, as the forces opposing the army of the Timok near Vidin effectually neutralized that force. In front of Dragoman and Trn the Bulgarians fell back, engaging in stubborn rearguard combats at every favourable place. The Serbian "Army of the Nishava" advanced but slowly and with hesitation, while the most strenuous exertions were made by Prince Alexander and his newly formed staff to collect their far-distant troops in the Slivnitza position. Every commander was given the simple order to march on Slivnitza. The civilian popu lation was warned to be ready with supplies to meet the troops by the roadside, and under these peculiar conditions and extraor dinary difficulties of country and weather, the Bulgarians marched on the decisive point at the highest possible speed of man and horse. Some remarkable marches are recorded: the 8th infantry, strong, covered 59m. in 32 hours, leaving only 62 men behind ; the troops that were sent up by rail were packed in open trucks, 6o men to a truck. The furious energy displayed had its reward on the field of battle. Before the last shot of the battle of Slivnitza was fired, nearly half of the entire forces of Bulgaria and Rumelia were in the lines, and 14,00o men more faced the army of the Timok at Vidin. With the main army—a striking display of what could be accomplished by patriotism and vigour —were 56 pieces of artillery, most of which had been dragged over the Balkan passes in mid-winter.