Baltic (II) was the third of White Star's "Big Four" -- Celtic, Cedric
and Adriatic were the other three -- put in service in the early
years of this century so White Star could provide weekly express
service between Liverpool and New York. For reasons unknown, Baltic
was always the most popular of these four virtually identical ships.
Launched 21 November 1903, Baltic made her maiden voyage, Liverpool-NY,
on 29 June 1904. At 23,876 tons, she was the largest ship in the world
at that time and she could accommodate 425 first class, 450 second and
2,000 third, with a crew of 560.
Baltic was instrumental in rescuing all of the survivors of the
Republic-Florida collision on 23 January 1909, responding to Republic's
radio calls for assistance. She later served as a troopship during WW I,
carrying the Headquarters staff and the first US troops to Europe in May
1917.
After the war, she resumed Liverpool-NY service. In 1927 she was
reconfigured to 393 cabin, 339 tourist and 1,150 third.
Baltic made her final voyage 17 September 1932 and was broken up in Osaka
in 1933.
Shown alongside Baltic in several of the cards on this page is the
tender Magnetic. Built by Harland and Wolff in 1891 and used exclusively
at Liverpool, Magnetic was primarily a passenger tender. She also served,
however, as a water carrier, tow boat, tug and Mersey cruise boat. Repaired
in Liverpool after a 1925 fire, Magnetic was sold by White Star in 1932 and
was scrapped in 1935.
Sources: Haws' Merchant Fleets; de Kerbrech & Williams' Cunard White Star
Liners of the 1930s; Anderson's White Star.
