Page 197 - The Secret War in the Italian front in WWI (1915-1918)

CHAPTER NINE

Moreover, the cipher indicated in point 5 of the list is exemplified by transposition-based
cryptograms shown in the following paragraphs, where also an example is exposed of a 3-figure
syllabic cipher application that Sacco probably had too (line 6 of the list).
The notebook contains many pages full of decrypted or just analysed cryptograms, for the most
part, transposition-based ciphers, but also includes mono and poly-alphabetic ciphers.

The sTaff

In page 28 (picture 3) Sacco writes down a list of his own personnel. There is no date, but if
the notebook was written in an orderly manner, it was likely to be August 1916. If the list is
complete, as it would seem to be, during the summer of 1916 Sacco had 8 people assisting him
in cryptologic activities: Biancolini, Fedi, Franceschini, Giovannuzzi, Massara, Orpici, Peretti,
Rebec. The Italian Captain was not familiar with German and before all, he needed very fluent
people in that language, as Professor Remo Fedi was. In the same year, the Austrian Encoding
Branch in Vienna - according to Gylden had no less than 26 cryptanalysts in service: the Italo-
48
Austrian cryptologic war resembled the David and Goliath challenge.

Picture 3

The RT Office was placed in Villa Dora - Codroipo and Sacco’s documents include a postcard
(picture 4) sent to his wife Cecilia on 26 February 1916, showing the words ‘my trench’ handwritten
near a window, that was likely his office window.

48 Y. Gylden, op. cit., p.22.

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