An item in the Dutch newspaper Zeeuw dated 23 November 1914referred to tidings received from Vlissingen, Netherlands referring to an item from the press association Reuter published in newspapers abroad reporting a German lugger interned there in the harbour and guarded by Dutch troops. She was used as minelayer. The reported went to the harbour but saw nothing neither could anyone confirm the existence of such a ship. The edition dated 19 February 1915 reported a bomb dropping in the harbour of Vlissingen while there was a German ship lying. In the edition dated 12 April was reported that the German steamship Main lying since the beginning of the war on the inner harbour of Vlissingen departed towards Antwerp, Belgium while ordered to leave the harbour. In the newspaper Soldaten Courant dated Friday the 16th was the departure on Sunday confirmed. The Dutch navy authorities at Vlissingen made clear that her presence was no longer appreciated for military reasons. If she wanted to stay in a Dutch harbour than that had to be another and not Vlissingen. Since recently was she guarded. Her captain preferred a departure towards Antwerp.
The newspaper Rotterdamsch nieuwsblad dated the 15th referred to the Daily Telegraph and supplied however interesting details about the reason for the departure on Monday. British newspapers claimed that on board of her a wireless telegraph device was discovered. The Daily Telegraph reported that a Dutch telegraph station intercepted a telegram sent from Zeebrugge, Belgium. Although a code was used it became clear that it was dealing with the movements of ships and submarines. The Dutch authorities also believed that the telegram was sent to a ship lying at Vlissingen. During a search on board of the Main was a wireless telegraph device found ready for use. The dynamo was placed in the engine room. The necessary wiring secretly fitted to the masts, stairs and so on.
