With the Serbs in Macedonia

INTO THE BREACH ONCE MORE 113
Russia had not yet been found out. This
attack, which was dying down on the 2nd of
August because the rest of the Alhes were not
ready, was ordered to continue on that day in
the hope of influencing Rumania. As, however,
it was not backed up by the AUies, it came to an
end on August 4th.
The delays as regards the AlHed offensive are
very understandable. Some were caused by the
Allied War Council and the state of affairs in
the West ; others by the series of time-taking
changes
of front between the French and the
British; transport
troubles connected with the
maintenance of a large force overseas ; the
unwearying obstruction of King Constantine
and his friends ; sickness among the troops ;
lack of roads and shortage of artillery — all
these things hindered the launching of the
Allied blow, and gave the enemy a chance he
was not slow to take advantage of.
Mackensen's methods on our left flank were
very similar to those employed simultaneously
on our right. On the 17th of August, the day
when his surprise offensive commenced all along
the line, the Greek guards on the front
treacherously withdrew and left the weak
detachments of Serbians round about Fiorina
at his mercy. The enemy came on secretly in
the early morning, advancing in two columns.