The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-04

/ petersburg last July was for the purpose
OF comforting with the Russian govern
ment on plans for Strengthening the
ears navy; and that Mr.. Nixon is very
soon TO take up residence in Russia for
an indefinite length of time, gives gen
| eral eredence to the report that his sery-
! ices are at the command OF that country
A brief survey of the career Of this
American that is to aid the Great Bear
make ready for. crushing her presump-
tuous enemy may be in place here. MIR.
Nixon, who is but 43 years of age. was
| born in Vermont. When a lad Of II he
| was appointed to Annapolis, and, pres
entity graduated atthe head of his class.
The United States navy department,
recognizing his ability. sent him to the
Royal Naval college of England. and ON
his return TO this country he became
assistant naval Instructor in the United
States navy. He had part in the con-
struetion Of the first Of our great mod
ern battleships, and in 1890 designed the
battleships Oregon, Massachusetts and
Indiana. In 1890 he resigned from the
navy. to accept the position Of superiR-
tendent OF Cramps shipyards at Eliza
beth. n. J.. where in six years he built
100 vessels. The Holland submarine was
a Nixon product. Mr. Nixon has been
active in politics as well as shipbuiIds
ing; he served on Tammany Hall s COM
mittee of i've, and from November, 1901,
to May, 190a3% he held Croker's place as
leader of Tammany IN 1902 MI. Nixon
was elected president OF the United
States Shipbuilding company. The pres
ent recognition of his ability is the cars
selection to have him as naval ally in
his warfare with the Japs.
Japan's navy at present consists of
seven battleships, eight armored eruis
ers, L. protected cruisers and 81 tor
pedo craft. In England there are under
construction for the japanese two bat
t1eships OF 500 tons. and no one knows
what efforts are being put forth secretly
in her own sbipyares. No one imagInes
the alert little empire is mapping.
The Baltic feet consists Of eight
battleships, nine cruisers, seven tor
pedo-boat -destroye and what may
be called a mammoth floating repair
shop. -Four OF the battieships are larger
than the CzareYiteh and RatzIVan. the
two proud vessels that came to grief at
Port Arthur.
The car has subscribed from his own
private fortune the enormous sum OF
$50, 100000 toward the Strengthening OF
Russias navy. 1t is estimated that to-
day $4,000 Workmen are laboring on the
shipbuilding which is progressing there
at such incredible speed. At Sebastopol
the work is Of a magnitude to astonish
even those that are wont to look to Rus
STA for big things. Several years ago
Russia selected this historic Crimean
fortress as a#navaI base, strengthened
it, and changed 1t from commercial
port. 4 past treaty agreed that Sebas-
topci was to be rebuilt as fortress.
but when the Germans in 1871 entered
Paris Car Alexander destroyed the
treaty and Sebastopol once more put on
a grim armor of defense,
It is believed that at this fortress Mr.. /
Nixon will make his headquarters the |
ensuing two years and thatin the ship
yards of SebasIopol will be constructed
many important additions to the navy.
From the sebastepol yards large battle