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Circus Man Finds QM More Efficient Than the Big Top. PvL Jack Tavlin, originally of Lincoln, -Nebraska, and President of the Circus Publishing Company, of the R.K.O. Building, Radio City, New York, has been in circus work for 23 years. It is big business, and handling it has given Pvt. Tavlin an excellent insight into the inner organizational working of the Circus Industry.ne is now a member of Detachment 7 of the 903rd Quartermaster Company, Drew Field. From his circus experience, he draws some very interesting comparisons — to the advantage of the Army. -Says Tavlin: “I’ve been around circuses for the past 23 years. I’ve been used to system; moving a couple of hundred miles a night, setting up a canvas city, tearing it down, hauling it to the railroad runs, and loading for the jump to the next day's stand—all in 24 hours. I thought circus system the last word in quick, direct-action efficiency—-but that was before I hit the QM base at Drew Field.. i ve reau a lot about the Army getting pointers from the circus, on loading railroad trains, and in tne operation of field kitchens. I had read it, and really believed it—but not now. It may have been true at one time, but the circus can get more hot tips here in one hour, than the Army ever got from the big top in a quarter of a century.“Let the Circus watch Major T. Reynolds, Base Quartermaster, for only one day, and learn plenty about big-time operation, system, and efficiency pius.“I must say, in all loyalty to the circus, that its executives and bosses have this same quality of doing things rapidly and well. There are many things the Army QM Corps has in common with the circus, and I’m lucky to have been in both. I’m proud to tell of a circus trouper’s reactions, and of his great admiration for a fine outfit, and a group of men.“I’ll not go into the duties that adsolutely awe me, the duties of the Base Quartermaster here at Drew Field. They are so numberless and sc complicated, that the average civilian, were he to see them being accomplished with dispatch and perfection every day—would take his hat off. to the Quartermaster Corps.”“There i^ one activity of ;the QM operation that the circus does not try to touch—no matter howefficient it is—and that is Salvage.I doubt if anyone outside the service knows of the magnificent job that the Quartermaster does in this field. If the average person were to see the QM saving and selling everything from egg crates to catsup bottles, from jam jars to burlap bags, he would realize how efficiently the Army was operating. Positively nothing goes to waste. Everything that can be salvaged, is saved.. The circus could learn plenty about salvage from the Drew Field Quartermaster.”Private Tavlin moved in big company in the circus world, knowing personally most of thepeople in the domain of the Big Top. At the New York World’s Fair, he operated all concessions at the three largest shows Billy Rose’s Acquacade, American Jubilee, and Railroads on Parade. He also owned one-third interest in the “Strange As It May Seem Show.” He hopes to put his organization experience to good use in the Quartermaster Corps at DrewField. : *-Who Claims Lowest ASN at Drew Field?Sgt. Raymond V. Soper^now of the Headquarters and Plotting Company, 551st Signal A.W. Bn., sent in his claim as owning'the lowest Army Serial Number on the field. His number is 130,32b*.He enlisted as a private on Sept. 6, 1917, and joined the 15th Field Artillery. He was promoted to sergeant and finally was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served in England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.Sgt. Soper, however, has to take a back seat to Pvt. Joseph H.T loving, now of the 314th Base Hqs. and Air Base Squadron. Pvt. Loving’s serial number is R-31,031.Pvt. Loving was a sergeant, first class A.M., of the 801st Aero Sqn., Air Service, U. S. Army, during the first world war. He enlisted August 13, 1917, at AsThomas, Kentucky. On Dece J10, 1917, he sailed from the Umtecf States and returned March 7, 1919. On March 20, 1919, he was discharged by reason of demobilization.
Newspaper Details
Tampa Drew Field Echoes
Tampa, Florida, US
Fri, Jan 29, 1943
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 23 Jan 2022
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