After more than two months of bitter fighting, the allied forces finally defeated the Greek "civilian armed forces," securing the British army's first major victory since the outbreak of the Near East War.
Major General Oliver finally let out the breath he had been holding. At last, he had an achievement he could present with pride. With fewer than five thousand casualties on his own side, they had killed 18,000 enemy troops and captured 14,000 more—a brilliant victory no matter how one looked at it.
He had decisively ignored the fact that the enemy was a rabble. As long as they pressed on and continued defeating the Principality of Montenegro's army, he would have completed all his operational objectives.
A young officer reported, "General, orders have arrived from home: we are to continue pursuing the enemy. If the Kingdom of Greece takes in these enemy troops, we are authorized to take whatever necessary measures are required."
Necessary measures? In truth, it meant finding an excuse to enter the Kingdom of Greece and teach the Greek government a lesson. Clearly, the London Government was already deeply dissatisfied with Otto I's government and wanted to show them a little color.
"Understood," Major General Oliver replied calmly.
He had no fondness for the Greeks. If not for their sneak attack, which had forced the Ottomans to pull troops away from the front, the Battle of Sofia would never have been lost.
Though he had shifted all the blame onto others, Major General Oliver knew perfectly well that he could not escape responsibility for that battle. It would follow him for the rest of his life, an indelible stain.
Now that he had a chance to settle scores with the Greeks, he naturally would not let it slip away.
There would always be an