This did not prevent rumors from circulating across Europe of two dreadnought battleships being constructed in Austria - Hungary .
For a full year , the Austro - Hungarian Navy attempted to keep the looming construction of the first two battleships a state secret .
This did not prevent rumors from circulating across Europe of two dreadnought battleships being constructed in Austria - Hungary .
For a full year , the Austro - Hungarian Navy attempted to keep the looming construction of the first two battleships a state secret .