The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-03-17

Petersburg last July was for the purpose
Of confsrring with the Russian govern
ment on plans for strengthening the
Czar's navy; and that Mr.. Nixon Is very
soon to take up residence In Russia for
an indefinite length of time, gives gen
eral credence TO the report that his sery-
fees 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. Mr..
Nixon, who Is but 43 years Of age, was
born in Vermont. When a lad OF II he
was appointed to Annapolis. and pres
emily graduated at the 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-
structlon 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 superin-
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 shipbuild-
ing; he served on Tammany Halls com
mittee Of five, and from November 1901
to Mag, 1902, he held Crokers place as
leader Of Tammany. In 1902 Mr.. 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
hk warfare with the Japs.
Jspan's navy at present consists Of
seven battleships, eight armored cruis-
ers, Is protected cruisers and 81 tor
pedo craft. In England there are under
construction for the japanese two bat
tleships Of 16,4O0 tons, and no one knows
what efforts are being put forth secretly
in her own shipyards. No one imagines
the alert little empire is mapping.
The Baltic fleet consists OF eight
battleshlps, nine cruisers, seven tor
pedo-boatdestroyers, and what may
be called a mammoth floating repair
shop. Four OF the battleships are larger
than the Czareyltch and Ratziyan. the
two proud vessels that came to grief at
Port Arthur.
The car has subscribed from his own
private fortune the enormous sum of
$40 600 900 toward the strengthening Of
Russias navy. It is estimated that to-
day $4,000 Workmen are laboring on the
which IS progressing there
at such incredible speed. At sebastopol
the work is Of magnitude to astonish
even those that are won't to look to Rus
sia for big things. Several years ago !
Russia selected this historic Crimean
fortress" as a naval base, strengthened /
It, and changed II from a commercial |
port. A past treaty agreed that Sebas-
topol was not 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.
II is believed that at this fortress Mr.. /
Nixon will make his headquarters the
ensuing two years. and that in the ship |
Yards Of Sebastopol will be constructed .
many important additions to the navy.
From the Sebastopol yards large battle F