Bussard-class cruiser was present in the Caribbean during the Spanish–American War in 1898, though she took no active role in the conflict. Between 1898 and 1900, "Bussard" and "Seeadler" were modernized in Germany. In 1900, "Seeadler" participated in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China, including a blockade of the Chinese coast. In December 1902, "Falke" and the protected cruiser joined British forces in the Venezuela Crisis of 1902–03 after Venezuelan forces seized a British merchant ship. The two cruisers helped British warships bombard Venezuelan coastal fortifications and blockade the coast. "Cormoran" and "Geier" were modernized between 1907 and 1909; only
Japanese cruiser Akitsushima torpedo tubes. The basic design of "Akitsushima" was too top-heavy, and the vessel had poor stability and sea-handling capability. During the First Sino-Japanese War, Captain Kamimura Hikonojō was assigned command of the new cruiser "Akitsushima" and participated in the Battle of Pungdo even before the start of official hostilities against the Imperial Chinese Beiyang Fleet cruiser . "Jiyuan" escaped, but "Akitsushima" captured the gunboat "Guanyi". Later as part of the flying squadron led by Admiral Tsuboi Kōzō at the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 17 September 1894, "Akitsushima" is credited with sinking the cruiser . During the battle, "Akitsushima"