Greeks established schools in order to reach their aim. The first Greek school was opened in 1740 in Kozani. In 1907, the number of Greek schools reached to 984 with 59,640 students. Greece wanted to invade Macedonia and Trace to move forward Istanbul. Ottoman Empire announced war against Greek upon their efforts for extending their borders. Turkish Armies arrived in Athens on 5 May 1897 but a ceasefire helped Greece. After this defeat, Greeks planned to start war between Turks and Bulgarians in order to reach their aim. Avustria invaded Bosnia-Herzegovina just after 1878 Berlin Congregate. Thus Serbia gave up its ideal for invading this country. Then they turned to Turkish lands and invaded Macedonia and Albania to reach Aegean Sea. Nikola Pasich made a speech in 1913 about his plan to invade Macedonia. He said, We should invade Macedonia and never let it separate again, Because those countries which controlled Macedonia, could also control whole Balkans in past.
In this period, more bandits received financial support from Serbia. They were active mostly in Uskup province. Retired Serbian officers attended these terrorist groups and became a member of Macedonia Committee. They received 300 thousand Francs for propaganda and 500 thousand Francs for intelligence service. Serbians tried to establish Dushan Empire in Macedonia.
On the other hand, Bulgaria worked for invading Turkish Macedonia according to Ayastefanos Treaty and a program made in 1885. In one of its articles it wrote, Macedonia has a vital importance for Bulgaria. Claims for controlling Macedonia were depended on honor and sensational basics. But there were many different nationalities in this country. For example, a village became Greek by the oppression of Greek terrorists, and it became Bulgarian in the following day when Bulgarian terrorists came. Those Christion peasants were so desperately exhausted that it was possible to see villages changing their nationality by bribery.
Serbian and Bulgarian bandits were plundering and destroying whole Macedonia. Both countries supported this meaningless and shameful war. These countries made propaganda in social, economical and cultural matters in the first phase of their plan for invading Macedonia. Then they started military activities as a second phase. They pointed at Turks more than other groups. They burnt and destroyed the Turk mosques, schools and houses. In other words, they tried to drive Turks out of Macedonia. Neighbor Balkan countries made cultural, economical and social suppression in the Christian people of Macedonia. They wanted to bind them to themselves. As for their claims, they would control whole Macedonia and even Balkans if they could control Christians.
Minorities lived in peace in Macedonian Hell during Ottoman period in respect of economy, education, religion, culture etc. Ottoman empire showed tolerance these minority groups. Macedonian Turks also approached in tolerance to these groups and build relation with them on basis of Islamic principles and high Turkish civilization. Those groups kept alive their religious, educational and cultural institutions and traditions during Ottoman government.
Though having different ethnic roots, Macedonian and Balkan Christians got close relations due to religion factor. They felt anger and hostility against Ottomans and Turkish nation. These senses strengthened their solidarity. This was best seen with revolt of Serbians in 1814, Greeks in 1821, Bosnians in 1875 and Bulgarians in 1876. Rumelian Christians supported these revolts with great pleasure.
To be continued