The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 366: Chapter 313: Balkan War Flames_3

The importance of Constantinople is self-evidt, as it not only connects the European and Asian parts of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but also controls the connection betwe the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Outside of Constantinople, the Turkish Empire established a heavily fortified military town to protect its capital.

Adriafort, one of the strongest military fortresses in the European part of the Turkish Empire, is second only to the impregnable capital city of Constantinople.

After the war broke out, the Turkish governmt specifically withdrew some of the troops from Albania and Macedonia to garrison Adriafort, located in the Sevres area.

This is the outpost for Bulgaria and Balkan nations on the way to Constantinople, as well as the last line of defse for the capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

If Adriafort falls, Sevres will be a smooth path, and the emy's army will quickly arrive at Constantinople.

In order to seize this military stronghold, Bulgaria mobilized an tire army group to sur the town, implicitly revealing its ambition to occupy Constantinople.

The rapid expansion of the Balkan nations alarmed the Turkish governmt, which hurriedly called on European powers to mediate.

It should be noted that the strategic position of the Bosphorus Straits is very important and has always be a battleg for military strategists.

For this strait, wars and crises have erupted several times throughout history, and this time will be no exception.

Due to the large-scale attack of the Bulgarian army, as expected, a new straits crisis broke out.

On March 0, just half a month after the start of the war, the Bulgarian army was only 5 miles away from Constantinople, which was already a very dangerous distance.

With the Bulgarian army launching an attack on Adriafort, British and Frch forces also deployed troops in the Bosphorus Straits.

The intervtion of the powers made the situation in the Balkans ev more tse.

Russia, taking precautions, ordered the Black Sea fleet to be ready for battle and secretly advised the Bulgarian army to halt its offsive.

But at this point, Russia's advice could no longer restrain the somewhat frzy of Bulgaria due to its easy victories.

Bulgaria dispatched more troops to Adriafort, demonstrating a determination to break through Constantinople before turning back.

As Britain and France were about to take their next step, Bulgaria, intoxicated by victory, disrupted its own military operation.

On March 6, 9, after capturing Adriafort, the Bulgarian army continued to attack Constantinople but was successfully ambushed and blocked by the Turkish army outside of Constantinople.

The offsive of the Bulgarian army stalled; though it was already very close to Constantinople, it still could not advance an inch further.

The failure of the Bulgarian army was a relief for Russia, which had be supporting Bulgaria, and it led Britain and France to decide to temporarily observe the situation and halt their actions.

The temporary safety of Constantinople was sured, and the straits crisis gradually subsided without escalating into a new international crisis.

Although the attack on Constantinople failed, the Bulgarian army's advance into East Macedonia and the Sevres region was very successful.

At the d of March, Albania declared its indepdce from the Ottoman Turkey and established a completely indepdt national governmt.

From th on, Turkey lost almost all of its European land, leaving only a few narrow areas and strongholds to hold on to.