(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Siegfried Popper, formerly Rear Admiral in the navy of the Austro-Hungarian empire, famous Jewish naval constructor, celebrated his eightieth birthday yesterday.
Popper was appointed naval constructor general by Emperor Franz Josef in 1904, with the rank of Rear Admiral. During his service in the Austro-Hungarian navy, he supervised the construction of many Austrian warships. Offers made to him by the former German Kaiser and the British government to accept posts in their navies were declined by him.
Popper resigned his position because he became a pacifist and returned to Prague where he was born. When the anti-Semitic numerus clausus agitation started in Vienna several years ago, the former admiral, as a protest against the discriminatory tendencies, rejected the title of honorary doctor which had been conferred upon him by the University of Vienna.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
