Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-07

and long rows OF obsolete gunboats and
transports of ancient design. Near where
the passenger steamers land is yard
for building smaller craft, and at present
large gangs of men are at work upon
long, narrow torpedo boats. a dozen or
more keels having been laid in row.
That location was occupied for year
or more by Louis Nixon of Eliza bethport.
y. j., who Is now a delegate 10 the pan
American conference at Buenos Aires.
Nixon had a contract for building fleet
of small gunboats for the rivers of ST.
IBERIA, and brought them over in Sec
lions to be put together here. Accord
ing to local gossip. greedy flocks OF cor
morants settled down upon him and gave
him a lot OF trouble. until he parted with
much of the profit that the contract
originally represented: but. OF course.
pie interested, and they are not likely
10 tell II.
Rottenness Of Navy.
Judging from the tales that are told
about the Russian navy during the war
with Japan. il must be the most corrupt
organization on earth. Everything was
rotten and everything was wrong. No
traces could be found of enormous sums
which had been granted for shipbuilding
and other preparations OF war
For example. when there was a change
in the Office of the admiral, previously
held by the late Grand Duke Alexis
an order was sent for a certain battle
ship or cruiser. / am not sure which.
to join the fleet at certain place. To
the establishment Of the new admiral. il
was disclosed in this way that no such
ship existed. although the money. had
been appropriated for it's construction
and equipment and maintenance for
several years.
When the Russian feet was on its
way to Japan an order was telegraphed
to be communicated by signal from a
certain lighthouse on the Russian
shore. The operator at the nearest sta
tion declared that there was no such
light
The matter was Investigated and it
was discovered that the money which
had been appropriated for the construc-
ton Of a lighthouse at that point had
never been used for any such purpose.
but had gone into the pocket OF ring
Of officials. who continued to draw the
money for maintenance until they were
thus accidentally exposed.
But II would require a volume TO
relate half the similar scandals that
were disclosed at that time, and they
account for the terrible disasters suf-
fered by the Russian navy in the Japa-
nese war.
II the Grand Duke Alexis. uncle OF
the emperor. who was responsible for
ton. had devoted as much energy in
building up a navy as he did in robbing
the government. Russia might have had
a powerful fleet.
Center of Social Life.
At the passenger dock is a customs
house. fronting a large square, with a
park and q promenade. bathing houses
an outdoor theater, restaurants. cafes,
skating rink and a concert stand
where the band plays every afternoon
and evening. The social life Of the
citizens centers there during the sum-
mer months.
Everybody comes out in the evening
Many families take their dinner there
and entertain their friends The scene
is animated and enlivened by a large
number Of army and navy officers in
Respondent uniforms
There Is another park at the opposite
end OF the town, and a much larger
one, which was the site Of the strong
est fortifications during the siege. Some
OF the old earthworks remain as relics,
piles of sandbags. basketwork and
trenches. The rest have been leveled,
the ground has been planted with trees
and laid of into walks. drives and
gardens.
In the center is a permanent building
lOf TIE eAniDitiCH Oh d panorama OF the
siege, but the picture has recently been
removed TO Petersburg and replaced with
one representing q battle with Circassian
cavalry during the invasion Of Daghestan.
Monument to Todleben.
There are several imposing monuments
also. the most notable being in honor or
Gen. Todleben. the engineer who designed
and constructed the defenses Of the city
at the time Of the siege. He is regarded
as the greatest hero OF the war, and
shortly after the recovery OF Sebastopol
by the Russians he was presented with
residence on the main street 1t is now
occupied for official purposes.
In the public square in front OF the
custom house is a striking bronze figure
of Admiral Nazanikin. who captured two
Turkish frigates with enc small brig in
the war of 1929
a little way up the street is memorial
church erected to the memory of four
admirals-Nashkioff. LaZareff, Korniloff
and Istomin-ail OF whom were conspicu-
Gus in the siege. LaZareff and kornilon
were both killed at the battle of Malikon