A cruiser can matter because it lets a small power arrive, participate, and be taken into account. Elisabeta's presence helped Romania become a relevant participant in international events and peace negotiations even though the ship could not overmatch a great-power fleet. Her age and limited fighting power were real constraints, especially once her primary guns were landed for shore defense, but she remained useful. The phrase 'waging peace' captures the result: a visible national warship forced larger powers to consider Romania in ways they could ignore states without comparable naval presence.
Chapter · 25:52-28:53
The peacetime value of a small cruiser's presence
The conclusion explains why an unglamorous cruiser could give Romania a voice in international affairs through presence, deployment, and continuity.