Venona Special Studies doc

 
- 139 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Special Study 
 
THE COVERNAMES "ANTENNA" AND "LIBERAL" 
IN . . . MESSAGES 

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- 140 - 
 
 
 TO      FROM   DATE    SUBJECT 
  Chief,  
  AS-90  AS-93  27 Apr48     Study of nnnnnnnn Messages 
 
        The attached study of messages in nnnnnnnn involving cover 
   names is forwarded for your information.  This report is a con- 
   tinuation of studies forwarded to CSGAS-90 on 16 and 21 April 1948. 
 
       Hugh S. Erskine 
   Incl.                             HUGH S. ERSKINE 
       Lt. Col., Signal Corps 
       Chief, CSGAS-93 
 

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- 141 - 
 
 
 
 
THE COVERNAMES "ANTENNA" AND "LIBERAL" IN nnnnnnnn MESSAGES 
 
 
 
     1.  In the recent report on the covername "ENORMOZ" etc., 
New York - Moscow messages of 1944 innlnnnnnnn were quoted in  
which an individual called LIBERAL was depicted as acting as 
an intermediary between a person or persons that has worked 
on ENORMOZ and the originators of the messages.  In message 1340 
[752] of 21 [20] September, signed by MAY, the ENORMOZ man 
seems to be named CHESTER, although there is also mention of 
a VOLOK (?) working at the ENORMOZ plant.  In message 1773 
[967] of 16 [15] December, signed by ANTON (?), the ENORMOZ 
man is called something like KALIBR.  (KALIBR might, of course,  
be a covername later assigned to CHESTER -- or VOLOK.) 
 
     2.  Recent work on messages involving LIBERAL, stimulated 
by the results of the work on the ENORMOZ messages, has re- 
sulted in new readings of possible intelligence value.  So  
much can now be known about LIBERAL and his wife and friends  
that it would seem possible to identify him.  Translations of 
the messages involved, excluding the ENORMOZ ones, follow with  
explanatory comment. 
 
     3.  In the interesting message 700 on changes in cover- 
names (New York - Moscow 1252 [700] of 2 September 1944), 
translated in the first report of this series, LIBERAL's 
earlier covername is given.  In our previous translations,  
this was given by ANTENKO.  It now appears that the true  
form is ANTENNA.  From what we know of ANTENNA's activities,  
it seems reasonable to suppose that the name ANTENNA was  
suggested by his knowledge of radio. 
 
     4.  New York-Moscow message 628 [344] of 5 May 1944: 
 
         --24F--, Sketch of ANTENNA.  He is 25 years old,  
a fellow countryman [ZEMLIAK = member of the CP-USA], 
--1F--, lives in Tyre [New York].  --3F-- course at 
COOPER UNION in 1940.  He worked two years in a/the 
laboratory of the Signal Corps at Fort Mammoth [MAMOT]. 
He was dismissed for past activity in a/the union.  HE 
has been working for two years at WESTERN ELECTRIC 
--45F-- entrance into the Fellow-Countrymanly 
[ZEMLIACHESKAYA = CP-USA].  (?Do you?) sanction --6F--. 
Do no delay reply. 
 
    344 
                              MAY 
 
                                             5 May 

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         The name Fort Mammoth  (FORT MAMMOT) obviously stands 
For Fort Monmouth.  It is not obvious whether this is a cover- 
naming or error -- probably the latter. 
 
         The word rendered "the Fellow Countrymanly", 
ZEMLIACHESKAYA, is here discovered for the first time.  It is 
represented by a single code group (plus adjectival ending). 
It/is a feminine  adjective, probably agreeing with the sub- 
stantive  PARTIYA  (party).  In this it is like the coverword 
for the  Australian  Communist Party in Canberra messages,  
BRATSKAYA  (the Brotherly,  the Fraternal).  The form ZEMLIA- 
CHESKAYA  is not directly  attested, but is rendered most  
likely by the fact that it must begin with ZEMLIACH... and 
must be capable of taking the accusative singular ending UYU. 
 
         ZEMLIACHESKOY is defined in Ushakov's Tolkovoy Slovar' 
Russkovo Yazuika as the adjective to ZEMLIACHESTVO, which is 
designated "historical" and defined as an organization uniting 
(university) students from the same region with the aim of 
mutual help of a material and cultural nature.  Here, however,  
it serves simply as the adjective to the coverwords for male 
and female U.S. Communists, ZEMLIAK and ZEMLIACHKA.* 
 
         The inclusion of a "historical" term in the code book 
strongly indicates that the choice of the coverword preceded 
the issuance of the book.  A similar consideration holds for 
the value KARFAGEN (Carthage), the covername for Washington, D.C. 
 
     5.  New York-Moscow Message 976 [550 and -?- of 
11 July 1944: 
 
     To VIKTOR. 
 
         Your telegram no. 26**.  At the last two meetings 
     (?PODROSTOK? [Stripling]) did not show up.  Advise  
     when he left and if possible an additional description 
     of him and likewise the nickname of our --1U-- under 
     which (?PODROSTOK?) knew him. 
 
         550 
 
         I beg --1U-- (?to?) the Countryside [Mexico] --5F-- 
     them (?in? ?to?) Tyre [New York].  The one apparatus 
     allowed by you for ANTENNA --3F--.  --6F-- from --1U-- 
 
 
* In the last message cited (section 8), ANTENNA-LIBERAL's 
  wife Ethel is called a ZEMLIAK, not a ZEMLIACHKA, but 
  MAX ELITCHER's wife (section 6) is called a ZEMLIACHKA. 
 
                              2 

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