The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-04-27
HOW GOVERNMENTS SEND
THEIR SECRET MESSAGES

just at the present time, when the states
of Europe are in an unusually anxious
condition as the result of the delicate situa-
ton in the far east, the telegraph wires
are kept busy with the most important
work ever intrusted to them-that is, the
official dispatches sent from one foreign
office to another and from the head min
listers of state to ambassadors abroad.
These important messages are always
sent in the most absolutely complete de
tail, not a single word being omitted or
left to be guessed inasmuch as a word left
out might lead to a misunderstanding, the
consequences of which would be Of the
most serious character.
These dispatches are invariably sent in
code when they are from government to
its own ambassador, and sometimes in code
from one government to another, the key
to which is in the hands of both foreign
ministers. In message Of vital import
ance, however, the code is always abandon
ed and plain language used, whilst dupli-
cate is sent as a check for reference to the
ambassador in the foreign capital to which
the original is Transmitted.
If time permits it is also the custom to
take further precaution against misunder-
standing by sending off posthaste by hand
another copy of the dispatch
The codes that are usually employed in
these diplomatic communications by wire
are what are known as the ''tive-fgure'
codes. sand whilst messages in them are
extremely simple to write and read for
those who have possession of the keys or
code dictionaries, it is next to an impossi-
bility for anyone else to make the smallest
sense out of them.
Different words are made by ringing all
the changes in arrangement of groups of
five figures. Thus "35S46" may be agreed
to mean Port Arthur" whilst "920l5
might be "Aexicif.' and "72S39' would
possibly stand for japanese fleet" There
are always Just five figures to a word. so
that sentence consisting Of 500 words
would be represented by a long string of
$500 figures.
When such a message is received the de
cipherer first divides the numerals into
groups of five and then sets to work upon
them with the code dictionary In the
latter all the different arrangements are
given in progressive order, beginning at
"0000l' and going on to 10000, and the
solution to any group may thus be found
in ten seconds, or as quickly as word
could be found in an ordinary dictionary.
OF course. the diplomat who writes the
dispatch in the first instance has the coun
terparr of this electromagnetic is. one in
which all the words are given in alpha
betical order and the code figures attached
to them. The number of possible arrange
ments is infinitely greater than the words
to be found in any language, aud lest a
key should at any time get into the wrong
hands the code figures are constantly
changed.
The rule is that government message
Of any country must be given precedence
over all other kilograms. irrespective of the
time. Thus if the Russian minister want
ed to telegraph to the ezar---as he is con
stantly doing in these days-it goes off at
once, even though there are dozens Of bust
ness and private messages waiting for their
turn.
When il is extremely urgent pilot
telegram" is sent in front Of it, the words
Clear the line" being warning 70 opera
tors all along the route TO pass the dis.
patch the second it reaches them.