Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-25

Petersburg last July was for the purpose
Of comforting with the Russian govern
ment on plans for strengthening the
cars 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 serv-
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-
:uous enemy may be in place here. Mr..
Nixon. who is but 43 years Of age. was
born in Vermont. When lad Of II he
was appointed to Annapolis, and pres
entity 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-
struction 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 be built
100 vessels. The Holland submarine was
Nixon product. Mr.. Nixon has been
active in politics as we'll as shipbuild-
ing; he served on Tammany Halls COM
mittee Of five. and from November, 1901 :,
to May, 1902, he held Cookers 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
his warfare with the Japs.
Japan's navy at present consists Of
seven battleships, eight armored cruis-
era. 16 protected cruisers and 81 tor
pedo craft. In England there are under
construction for the japanese two bat
tleships OF 16.400 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 feet consists of eight
5attleships, nine cruisers, seven tor
observation-disclosures, and what may
be called mammoth floating repair
shop. Four Of the battleships are larger
than the Czarevitch 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
100000, 900 toward the strengthening of
Russia's 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 naval base, strengthened
it, and changed 1t 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 Gar Alexander destroyed the
treaty and Sebastopol once more put on
q grim armor of defense.
It 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 constru :ted
many important additions t. he navy.
From the Sebastopol yards large battle