ainty
that at some future time all her foes, superior in numbers and
munitions, would beat upon all her fronts at once. But she was no
longer able to push eastward to follow the pathway of Napoleon and
meet a Russian winter on the road; moreover the situation in the
Balkans demanded attention and the Italian offensive along the Isonzo,
as well as Anglo-French pressure in the west, also claimed notice.

THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN

Early in the spring the Anglo-French fleets had made a desperate and
almost successful attempt to force the Dardanelles. (Vol. III,
423-437.) Their failure had been followed by a land expedition, which
took root at the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, made slight
progress inward and was halted only a short distance south and west of
the commanding hills. (Vol. III, 429-437.)

[Illustration: The Conquest of Serbia, December, 1915.

Arrows show routes taken by Austrian, German, and Bulgar invaders.

_A_--Route of retreating Serbs

_B_--Route of Allies from Saloniki in their unsuccessful attempt to
rescue the Serbs.]

A new effort in August directed from the Gulf of Saros through Suvla
Bay had also just missed supreme success, through failures in
preparation and command which were beginning to show in all British
operations. (Vol. IV, 344.)

For the moment Turkey had saved Constantinople, but the Turks'
supplies of munitions were running short and there was reason to
believe that the Gallipoli thrust might presently end in victory and
open the straits to Russia, if Germany did not take a hand.

Thus spurred, Germany and Austria planned and executed the most
successful single campaign of the war. German diplomacy succeeded in
enlisting Bulgaria. (Vol. IV, 269-274.) Allied diplomacy chained
Serbian action while there was yet time for Serbia to save herself,
Greece deserted her old ally and in November a great Austro-German
army under Mackensen suddenly burst into Serbia from the north and
west (Vol. IV, 268-269), while a Bulgarian army entered from the east.
(Vol. IV, 269-273.) The result was inevitable. Serbia was crushed. Her
gallant army fled over the mountains after heroic resistance and
reached the Adriatic, but as a mob rather than as an army. (Vol. IV,
263-307.)

Tardy Allied efforts to come to the rescue through Saloniki were
blocked by the Bulgarians south of Uskub (Vol. IV, 308-316), all
Macedonia was taken (Vol. IV, 267-334), and the Anglo-French
expedition was driven sou