 Elba was present in Korea during the Russo @-@ Japanese War , which took place primarily in neighboring Manchuria . She witnessed the Battle of Chemulpo Bay in February 1904 and rescued Russian survivors along with British and French cruisers . In 1905 , Umbria represented Italy at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland , Oregon . Lombardia was converted into a depot ship for submarines in 1906 – 08 . Etruria visited the United States twice for major events , the Jamestown Exposition in 1907 and the Hudson @-@ Fulton Celebration in 1909 . Elba and Liguria were modified to operate an observation balloon to assist in spotting naval mines , which could be more easily seen from the air . In December 1910 , Umbria was sold to the Haitian Navy and renamed Consul Gostrück , though she sank shortly after the transfer due to her new crew 's inexperience . 
