New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-14
CAREER OF M4K4ROFF.

Stephan Osipovich Makarof. Admiral OF
the Russian Navy. won the title Of "Cossack OF
the Seas by his daring i'm the Turko- Russian
War on the Black Sea and the Danube He
born I'm 1913 and was the son Of a flag cap
tain Of the Russian Navy. II was in 1877
while he a lieutenant. that his bravery was
displayed in the Turko- Russian War He was
placed in command OF a small steamer Of /, 800
tons which he converted into torpedo boat and
named the Grand Duke Constantine. He
harassed the Turkish vessels at Batoum. Suna
and Nikopolls. Aided by Lieutenant Skrydlofr
he managed to blow up a Turkish ironclad by
affixing n torpedo TO her side in the darkness
from a small boat. At the end OF that war he
was promoted TO be n captain Of the second
grade and decorated with the Cross of St
George and the order Of ST Vladimir. while
a gold handled sword was presented to him by
the Emperor.
After that he was rapidly promoted He COM
manded in succession the squadrons of the Bal
tic the Mediterranean and the Pacific. He was
in command Of the Russian cruiser attached to
the Russian Embassy at Constantinope at one
time and familiarized himself with the defences
Of the Bosporus. He devoted considerable time
and attention TO improvements in ordnance and
naval appliances and many Of his inventions
were introduced in the Russian Navy
In the Carbohydrates War he commanded
division of Admiral Tyrtoffs squadron at Che
Foo While he In command Of the harbor
OF Cronstadt and in charge OF the defences of
st. Petersburg he became interested in the prob
lens of Arctic research and devised the huge
cebreaker Yermak said to be the stoutest yes
sci afoat He 10 this country in 1895
while engaged in the study of designs for ice
breakers. and a visitor in this city and
Philadelphia. studying shipbuilding. He formed
a theory that with a sufficiently powerful ice
breaker 1t would be possible to plough a path
directly to the North Pole but never attempted
TO put the plan in execution, although he made
two trips in the Yermak TO the Arctic Circle
After the present war began and the Japanese
crippled the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. Adj
miral Makaroff was appointed 10 command the
Russian Pacific fleet. When he left Cronstadt
mis- sailors carried him to Father John to secure
a blessing. and he said God bless you. little
brothers," to his officers and men as they babe
him goodby. His arrival at Port Arthur gave
new life and inspiration to the Russian fleet.
and he went TO work with energy and courage
to repair the damaged vessels; those which
could not be kept ahoat were converted into
forts on March he went out with his yes
sells 10 repulse the japanese I'm their second at
tempt to bottle up his vessels in the harbor. and
reported his success TO the Emperor on his re-
turn.
Admiral Makarof has been described as
Fighting Bob Evans with Russian beard.
He was tall. broad shOuldered and finely built
with long gray whiskers, but not looking his
age of fifty-six. He was agreeable personally
TO all he met, but looked the fighter more than
the man of science. on the occasion Of his
visit TO this country eight years ago. he was
thus described:
Rear Admiral Makaron Of the Russian Navy. is
one of the most conspicuous figures OF modern Eu-
ropean naval history Although only forty-seven
years old he is the first the list of Russian
rear admirais, and is senior to large number of
officers whom he superseded by special promotion
He II was who. during the last Turko- Russian War
was regarded the Skobeoff of the Russian Navy
and like that great general, whose portraits he
sembles was several times promoted for his daring
and enterprise His career i'm that
interrupted series of dashing attacks Turkish
ships i'm the Ba toum and other Turkish harhorS of
the Black Sea. I'm which his skill second alone
to mis- daring. That is why he is the senior admiral
at the age of fOrty-seven years. He recently com
manded the Asiatic squadron. and ts now his
Way home 10 assume command of the Baltic fleet.