The War in the Balkans - September / October 1912 UNITED THEY FAIL - Cartoon by Bernard Partridge from Punch. The Powers: We discouraged the Chinese Loan ; we forbade war in the Balkans. Now, how shall we assert ourselves next. The new Turkish government from 1909 failed to carry out reforms in Macedonia as the massacre of Armenians continued. Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro formed an alliance to demand autonomy for Macedonia. The Porte replied on 25 September by ordering 'grand manoeuvres' on the Bulgarian frontier and by 1 October 1912 a general mobilisation of forces was evident.