The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-14
MAKAROFF WAS A HERO,
DARING, INVENTIVE AND
WORSH|P[D BYRUSSIANS
Gained Renown During the Russo
Turkish War by Torpedoing
a War Vessel.
KNEW AMERICA WELL
Paid Three Visits to the United
StateS-An Authority on Naval
Construction.
KNEW AMERICA WELL

ST. PETERSBURG, April 13.-The tragic
death of Vice Admiral Makaroff has caused
great sensation throughout Russia. He
was appointed Feb. 20 last to the command
of the Russian Pacific fleet. He was one
of the heroes of the fighting on the River
Danube during the Russo-Turkish war.
Makaroff and Skrydloff. who have since
many times been honored by their govern
ment. were at that time lieutenants in the
Russian navy and volunteered to make a
night attack on a powerful Turkish iron
clad With a torpedo boat they succeeded
in blowing up the Turkish vessel and, it was
claimed at the time, thereby made the first
successful demonstration of the usefulness
of torpedo boats in naval warfare Maka-
rolf originated the idea of constructing the
famous ice-breaking steamer Ermak, which
was built on the Tyne from his design.
Since his appointment to the command
of the Russian Pacific fleet Makaroff had
shown himself to>be man of great cour-
age and energy. Early in March he per-
sonally went to the rescue of a Russian
torpedo boat destroyer which was hard
PRESSED by the Japanese. and inspired the
naval forces under his command with a
great deal of enthusiasm He passed Easter
on board a guardship at the entrance of
Port Arthur and every night personally
supervised the precautionary measures
adopted to prevent the Russians from be-
ing surprised by the Japanese The last
engagement previous to the fight of to-day
in which Makaroff took part occurred on
March p, when he gallantly repulsed the
second attempt of the japanese to bottle
up Port Arthur.
Vice Admiral Makaroff paid three visits
to the United States, the first in 1863 He
made a tour of California to New York in
1896 and in March 1885, made a flying trip
to Detroit, having letters of introduction
to United States Senator Mcmillan which
enabled him to see all he desired in a very
short time He left New York March 20,
of that year, 10 assume command of Rus
sias Baltic sea fleet While in New York
the admiral spoke with enthusiasm of his
ice cruSher, which was then in course of
construction. He expressed the opinion
that two such ships could reach the north
pole in summer when the ice is moving. He
explained that at such times the ice forms
in islands, some large and some small. and
that the little steamship Fran, when forced
TO return, made $50 miles by sailing through
openings between such islands. Therefore,
the admiral belleVed, two Such Ice cruSherS
as he had planned could move through such
ice TO the pole. The deceased admiral had
frequently lectured on the construction of
WdISulpS, WHICH, Lltuc MN ldluOuS III IdNdl
circles throughout the world, and was the
author of a book entitled, Discussion of
Difficult Questions of Naval Tactics"
Vice Admiral Makaroff was born in 1S4S,
served as an ensign for two years and as
lieutenant for six. The vessel which he
commanded during the Russo-Turkish war
was the gunboat Grand Duke Constantine,
which was armed and equipped according to
his designs. At the end of that campaign
Makaroff was promoted captain and was
decorated with the orders of st. Vladimir
and st. George was presented with a sword
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