雙語暢銷書《艾倫圖靈傳》第5章:解謎接力賽(23)
They had not broken the machine; they had beaten the system.
The basic principle of using an Enigma machine was that its rotors and rings and plugboard would be set up in some particular way,
謎機的基本原理是，將它的轉盤、帶子和配線板，設定到某個選定的初始狀態，and then the message would be encrypted, the rotors automatically stepping round as this was done.
然後就可以對信息進行編碼，它的轉盤會自動旋轉步進。
But for this to be of any use in a practical communication system, the receiver of the message also had to know the initial state of the machine.
在實際的通信系統中，信息的接收方必須知道那個選定的初始狀態。It was the fundamental problem of any cipher system.
這是所有密碼系統都面臨的一個問題。The machine was not enough; there had to be also an agreed, fixed, 'definite method' of using it.
光有機器是不夠的，還需要有確定的、固定的、約定的方法來使用它。According to the actual method employed by the Germans, the initial state of the machine was partly decided at the time of use by the cipher clerk.
德國在實踐中的作法是，機器的初始狀態部分取決於執行操作的時間。Inevitably, therefore, it made use of indicators, and it was through the indicator system that the Poles enjoyed their success.
因此，它必須要利用指示信號，而波蘭正是利用指示信號而獲得成功的。To be explicit, the order of the three rotors was laid down in written instructions, and so was the plugboard and ring-setting.
確切來說，操作指南中講解了三個轉盤的次序，配線板以及帶位設定。The task of the cipher clerk was to choose the remaining element, the initial settings for the three rotors.
密碼操作員的工作，就是爲三個轉盤設定初始盤位。
