Once more we have to record the departure of two able and affable officers. during the week Lt. R. J. Matusek, Jr. and Lt. G. M. Reeves both departed for future duty aboard submarines. Lt. Matusek had just completed three years of service on the SLC and there was a tug at his heart as he looked back from the tanker upon his former ship. Our considerable loss in these two officers is certainly to the gain of the submarine service and to the officers personally we express our esteem and good wishes.

During the past week three other officers: Lt. Jos. F. Maher, Lt. C. C. Nichols and Lt. Bruce R. McLachlin completed three years service aboard our ship.

It is worthy of record that of late, Chief Watertender (pa) L. G. Wilder, CWT was transferred. We wonder how he will get along elsewhere for he had served aboard here since the Salt Lake was commissioned. We will all concede him the right to look upon her as "his ship." That is if A. D. Hyman, Gunner's mate 1c agrees. For that right now is exclusively his for he is the solo remaining member of the original crew of the "Queen of the Seas." Lt. Matusek admitted he knew a little less than nothing about submarines. "Don't even know how to get into one, but I'm willing to start at the top."

In the re-shuffle of responsibilities Lt. Richard L. Blum takes over the 3rd Div., Lt. F. R. Lloyd, Jr. (jg) becomes 4th Div. officer and Lt. Fredrick L. Gilman, (jg) 6th Div. officer.

The Cox brothers of the 7th Div. have a vital interest in our present operations. Their Marine brother was one of those that stormed Tarawa - and one of those now holding it, we surely hope.

Victor J. Vidal, Y2c, 4th Div. is one of 4 brothers in the service: 2 Navy, 1 Marine, 1 Army

To all the men that advanced in ratings, our congratulations. There is opportunity for everyone. And the library has been re-checked and re-stocked --use it

W. L. Dwyer, Y1c, who ably produced the SALT SHAKER for months has been moved up to the Captain's office. A. C. Tyler, yeoman striker, Y3c has taken over and is giving good promise with his drawings.

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For Central Pacific Force: " The Gilbert Islands were quickly wrested from the enemy because of excellent coordination among all services in careful planning and courageous execution. I am proud of all officers and men who took part. The memory of those who gave their lives will inspire us to apply ourselves with increased diligence to hard future tasks. All forces have helped create and can take pride in the unbeatable combination we have forged."

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Fleet Admiral Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet---CINCPAC

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Three years aboard the SALT LAKE CITY.... Once more the Navy solved its problem by taking a SLC officer. This time it is Lt. Commander George O'Connell, assistant gunnery and personnel officer and main battery control officer. Mr. O'Connell was to report back to the West Coast for further assignment. We consider his departure a loss to the SLC and our sincerest wishes accompany him. Mr. O'Connell was awarded the Silver Star for his outstanding work in the Komandorskis engagement.

In the new assignment of officers Lt. Commander H. E. Grahn steps into the duty of Lt. Commander O'Connell. Mr. Johnson(?) becomes main battery control officer and Lt. George Halvorson becomes F division officer.

And three new officers have come aboard to carry on the traditions of the SALT LAKE CITY. They are Ensign P. U. Richardson, who will be "N" Division officer; Ensign Lowell F. Dennis, J.O. of the "F" Division and Ensign John C. Adams, Jr., J.O. of the 3rd Division. We extend a hearty welcome to these officers and trust their duties interesting.

And on this cruise we have two officers as passengers; Ens. J. D. Jacques & Ens. R. U. Harker. We are glad to have them with us and hope they find the voyage pleasant and instructive.

Left behind was our correspondent, Mr. J. Bishop whose assignment held him to the Aleutian area. It is with regret that we parted company. Be on the look-out for an article in the Saturday Evening Post...no telling who the hero is going to be.

We were forced likewise to leave our casualties behind in the hospital. L. F. Myers, SK3c had already been sent back to the States. At the price we do not blame him as he has a broken knee. At last reports Michael Stecz, QM1c and Murphy(?) and Sutton(?) were doing well and were only reconciled to our going with the promise that they would be able to rejoin us later.

Hampton P. Saussy, S2c(SM) who was achieving fame as our cartoonist, had to be sent to the hospital at the last minute with a dangerous appendix. We sympathize with him in his affliction and we also will miss his imaginative work. The pages of the paper are open to any aspiring artists. A few have already been contacted and as they contribute we will give them due recognition.

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Washington --- Gray working uniforms for Naval enlisted men aboard will be substituted for the present white uniforms, it was announced this week by the Navy Department.

The gray working uniform will differ from the present white undress uniform only in color. Design and fabric will not be changed, but the trousers, jumpers and hat will be slate gray, blending into the color of the vessels to afford a protective coloration for personnel.

Blue dungarees will continue to be worn for work on ship and ashore but issuance of the gray working uniforms, the Navy said is expected to ease the war on dungarees and thereby reduce replacements.

Specifications for the new undress grays are now being drawn up and large quantities of gray cotton twill are being purchased.

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"Huge task forces spearheaded by carrier-based aircraft are poising for new pile-driver blows against the enemy...." Admiral McCain.

"There are several reasons why the 'Westward Ho' movement is timely. The Jap threat to the Aleutians has been removed by the retirement from Kiska. This automatically releases any large naval units we might have in the Aleutians to take part in operations elsewhere. Operations in the Southwest Pacific have proceeded so successfully that some of the pressure of fleet units there has also been relaxed."

"Our heavy Navy units available have thus been increased, and we have previously taken a measure of the Japs in gun action featuring these heavy units. Our aircraft carriers have increased greatly in numbers, as have our naval aircraft. And somewhat contrary to previous expectations, our naval aircraft have met Jap land-based aircraft and have had rather the better of it." Admiral Wm. V. Pratt, USN. (ret.)

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Sept. 26th, 1943 Saltshaker

The Marcus raid focused attention on the new American Navy that has been built since Pearl Harbor. It is the story of "a warship a day," which Navy Secretary Frank Knox has revealed as the rate of the Navy's expansion in the Pacific alone.

Of all the mighty new monsters of the seas, the biggest and most powerful are the 45,000-ton battleships.. Iowa and New Jersey, first of six such ships of Iowa class which combine tremendous fire power with amazing speed. Nine 16-inch guns and twenty 5-inchers (which can be used as anti-aircraft guns) comprise their main armament.

Smaller than the Iowa and New Jersey, but mounting the same firepower, is the Washington class of battleship, 35,000-ton sea-going devils that are death to enemy planes as well as ships. All six are probably now in commission.

The battleship is still king in the Navy (so this article says), but the aircraft carrier is queen. Since Pearl Harbor, seven 25,000-ton carriers have been launched. The month of August alone saw a new Hornet and a new Wasp take their places beside the Bunker Hill, Essex, Yorktown, Intrepid, and Lexington. The Navy has also converted at least seven 10,000-ton cruisers into airplane launching flattops. These included the Monterey, Bellenu Wood, Independence, Princeton, Cowpens, Bataan, and Langley, all launched within the past fourteen months. Along with the three pre-Pearl Harbor ships, this gives the Navy a total strength of seventeen carriers afloat.

Three new heavy cruisers of the 13,000-ton Baltimore class also came off the ways in recent months--- the Canberra, Vincennes, and Quincy, each mounting nine 8-inch and twelve 5-inch guns. A new class of battle cruiser, the 27,000-ton Alaska group of six ships, also promises Japan some headaches. The cruiser picture is rounded out with three new light cruisers of 10,000-tons, the Biloxi, Miami, and Houston, boasting twelve 6-inch and twelve 5-inch guns.

New light warships ready to tangle with the enemy include more than 50 destroyers and 65 destroyer-escorts, all equipped with armament designed for use against submarines, surface craft, and planes.

Spawned in the furnace of Pearl Harbor this is the new might of the United States Navy that, in raiding Marcus Island, already has cracked the will of Japan's outer defenses. That initial baring of its teeth was, in the words of Admiral McCain, "only a token" of blows that "will increase in temp, in power, and in fury, until finally...in continuous attack we lay waste in blood and ashes the home island of this treacherous, brutal, and savage people."

Newsweek... Sept. 13.... no year listed

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