4 Evan’s description of the Bulgarian collapse is fairly accurate. By the third week in September 1918, the whole of the Bulgarian front had failed and was in full retreat. The Marshall Cavendish encyclopedia of World War I / editor-in-chief, Peter Young 1984

13

When it happened, on September 18th and 19th, 1918, the whole of the Bulgarian front had been in full retreat for three weeks. Vasili wasn't a military strategist, but it didn't take one to realize the small triangle of land formed where the Cherna river flowed into the Vardar made a poor spot to make a stand, even if only for one night.

Vasili labored in the autumn sun, stacking the 75 pound, two-foot long artillery shells in long rows three deep next to the gun emplacement. The five Krupp 77 mm howitzers stood a menacing vigil, looking south toward Greece and the two French divisions that lingered somewhere on the horizon. Vasili set down a shell to talk to the passing Captain.

"How many rounds do you want to bring out of the wagon sir?"

Captain Hoxa twirled at the ends of his thick handlebar mustache as he surveyed the surrounding Macedonian countryside. "Better bring them all out soldier, just in case. And go help 1st squad when you're done," he said, walking down to the river.

Vasili arched his back and sighed before reaching back into the horse-drawn wagon for more shells. Two hours later he left his six neat rows and walked the twenty-five feet down to the next gun. The loader and breech operator shoveled dirt around the large steel spoke wheels of the gun, bracing it. The first squad's ordnance man had unloaded only half of his wagon. His rounds lay in loose rows that leaned precariously.

"Thanks for helping," the ordnance man said as Vasili started handing shells down to him from the wagon. "Hoxa's been busting my balls all afternoon."

"Don't worry, we'll get it straight. But I'll tell you something, I don't like setting up here one bit."

"You know if we didn't have to hump these shells in and out every goddamn day we'd be in Skopie by now where we belong," said the smaller first squad man straining to keep up with Vasili's pace. "Hopefully he'll decide to use some of these rounds so we won't have to reload so many tomorrow morning. Besides, I've been dying to shoot some of these babies off in anger."

"You just might get your chance tonight soldier," Captain Hoxa said, stepping around the wagon. "Now get your lazy ass back to work!

"Alright ladies, here's the drill," Hoxa shouted loud enough for all five crews to hear. "Have your positions and camps ready in one hour. Tie all the horses off next to the river. There will be only one fire tonight, the one that Verga is using to cook, and that will be snuffed before dark. We've got two full strength frog divisions sleeping in this valley with us tonight, so be careful."