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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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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