New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-08
Baltic Arrives;
Adriatic Passes
War Zone Safely
Gunners on Duty as Big
Liner Comes In with
SO Passengers
U-Boat Fooled by Luck
Steamer Brings Reports OF
Scores of Submarines
Captured by British

The White Star liner Baltic the sec
ond largest vessel at present IN the
transatlantic passenger service, ar
rived late last evening from Liverpool
with eightv-two passengers. She was
scheduled to leave the British port on
February 10. but was held in the Mer-
sew bv Admiralty orders until midnight
on the following Sunday, when accom-
panied by nine other vessels sho
steamed for New York, taking the
northern course.
As she sailed up the bay yesterday
her long 6-inch gun, with four gunners
standing alongside on duty, gave her a
warlike appearance. despite her "nite
superstructure and creamy funnel IN
peace time colors.
The Adriatie, which was reporter
safe yesterday in midocean. and IS ex-
pected to arrive Sunday, and the pa NC
are the only two vessels now IN Che
Transatlantic passenger service whlch
have not adopted gray war paint
Ready with Smoke Mask
As on the Carmana. which arrived
Tuesday. two small tunnels on either
side of the gun are used for sending
Ont q smoke screen, which renders the
Baltic invisible at a distance OF tnree
miles. on her fourth day out from
Iiverpool. while in midocean, a test
was made of the new smoke apparatus
and il was found 20 be efficient.
On her last trip east the big pas,
sanger vessel escaped being torpedoed
nv less than an hour. She passed the
California about five miles distant, but
instead of following the southern
course she held TO the north, passing
around the north of Ireland instead oil
the south. The California, however
held 70 the southerly course, and hfty
minutes later was struck by torpedo
from a U-boat.
Prepared for Emergency
Passengers on the Baltic said the
lifeboats had been swung oversize Ior
almost the whole voyage. Even yester-
dav there were piles of blankets lying
at the foot of all companionways near
heaps of life preservers, TO be snatched
ND at a moments notice should any
emergency arise. During the voyage
the Baltic followed a nOrtherly course
all the way across ana saw no hosl4Ie
raider or submarine.
Reports regarding the capture oil
large numbers of submarines in st.
Georges and the English Channel were
confirmed by passengers. They SAID
that il was common gossip in Liverpool
that nearly threescore German sub
marines had either been captured OF
sunk by TIE large feet Of destroyers
and mine sweepers at present on patrol
duty in the Irish Sea and of the south
coast of England.
At the Offices Of the White Star Line
Broadway, last night it was stated
that there was no truth in the report
circulated yesterday that the AdriatiC
was in difficulties. The rumor started
by the Montreal Office Of the line ask
ing by telegraph if Captain J. n. Ran
son was in difficulty, as was rumored
there.
Captain Ransom for the last nint
months has commanded the Adriatc
but on the last voyage he returned tC
the Baltic 1t is believed the rumoi
started in Montreal that the Baltic
must be in difficulty, as the Carmania
which arrived Tuesday evening. re-
ported passing the Baltic on the SECOND
day out. and when the latter did not
arrive short after the Cunarder anxi
ETY. was felt. The explanation wal
that the Baltic is the slower vessel