 In 1898 , Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia was dispatched to Cuba during the Spanish – American War , to evacuate Austrian and German nationals in the city of Santiago . The ship arrived off Santiago on 3 July , the day the Spanish admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete attempted to break out of the harbor , through the American blockade . The American auxiliary vessel USS Resolute spotted Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia approaching US Army transports off Siboney and <unk> . Resolute informed the battleship USS Indiana about a " Spanish battleship " attacking the army ships , after which Indiana steamed to engage the supposed Spanish warship . After closing to 6 @,@ 000 yards ( 5 @,@ 500 m ) , Indiana 's captain identified Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia shortly before his gunners would have opened fire . The Austrian cruiser had similar run @-@ ins with other vessels of the American fleet as it sought permission from the American commander to perform its evacuation . After inspecting her , Admiral William T. Sampson , the American commander , permitted the Austrian cruiser to enter the harbor for her mission . After picking up the evacuees , Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia went to Port Royal , Jamaica , and remained in the Caribbean until the end of the war . On 9 May , she departed , bound for Pola , and arrived on 9 December . Over the winter of 1898 – 1899 , the ship served in the winter training squadron along with the battleship Budapest . 
