Cipher Writing

a method of sending important intelligence in a manner so effectually disguised that only those for whom the news is intended can understand the meaning of what is written. By this method one word may be used to represent an entire sentence and thus not only is the cost of transmitting a me age materially reduced, but the contents become known only to the person for whom it is intended or to the po e or of a key. Cipher codes are employed by the State Departments of all governments and frequently changed. The special code is entrusted to the personal custody of diplomatic officials embarking on a mi ion, who retain po e ion of it and destroy it if their lives are endangered.