THE MAN WHO MOVES THE ARMY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 60

THE MAN WHO MOVES THE ARMY.

HE SUPPLIES MAFEKING WITH THE

SINEWS OF RESISTANCE. " Moving an army of 100,000 men is a gigantic task, especially when it is remembered that Napoleon's statement that " an army crawls on its stomach " is absolutely true. To move a body of troops forward, food in sufficient quantities must be available in waggons, for Tommy Atkins cannot j fight on the memories of a meal eaten two or three days ago ; and, therefore, tho provision waggons must keep pace with the advance, however victorious the army may J be. The task before the British Government Avould have been almost too heavy ! but for the invaluable assistance ox a man on the spot — Mr Julius Weil, M.L.A., whose name is known, in the remotest corners of South Africa. Mr Weil control perhaps the largest system of U'tuibiioi'L and

supply in South Africa, and has depots in every centre of importance in the subcontinent. He has agents everywhere, and so complete is the organisation of his enormous business that he can in a very few hours &et the entire machine in motion.

At the present moment Mr Weil is playing an important part in the war, and it is not the first time he has. assisted the Imperial Government in undertaking transport work. Not very long ago Mr Weil went out to the Cape in company with Colonel Plumer and Colonel Here, "instead of resuming his parliamentary duties as member for Mafeking, as had been his intention, owing to the nearness of the war, and as a result of long discussions on the steamer, Mr Weil on landing at once undertook the arrangements for rationing the men, horses, and followers of Plumer's and Hore's columns. In view of the probability of the Boers destroying the line to Mafeking, Mr Weil at once sent up to that town the greater part of Ais huge stock of provisions kept at Port Elizabeth. In a very short time the wisdom, of this course was seen when, soon after the outbreak of hostilities, Mafeking was invested and quite cut off from communication with the outside world. To Mr Wei], therefore, belongs the credit of the sinews of resistance at Mafeking, Colonel Baden-Powell having about half a million rations for man and horses at the. commencement of the siege. In Mafeking at the present moment is Mr B. B. Weil, urothcr to Mr Julius Weil, and a member of the firm. He has full charge of the firm's interest here, and has full discretion. Mr B. B. Weil had experience as quartermaster of the Commissariat Department in the Warren Expedition of 1878, and is therefore invaluable at the present time.

Colonel Plumer's active little column on the Rhodesia border is being easily supplied with provisions by Mr Weil from his large store at Buluwayo by means of a number of men, horses and mules. The work has hitherto gone on without a hitch, and it must be a great relief for Colonel Plumer to be certain of his supplies. Important as this part of the work is to the various columns of the army, by far the chief part of Mr Weil's usefulness to the Government is his system of transport. In times of peace Mr Weil's trains of oxdrawn waggons carry produce to every part of South Africa, connecting the most remote spots with civilised centres. As soon as war broke out Mr Weil's waggons and teams were in great demand, and it may be said that his agents have scoured the whole of Cape Colony in search of waggons and oxen. Mr Weil's two brothers, Mr Samuel Weil and Mr Myer Weil, together with Mr L. E. B. Homan and Mr Arthur Fuller, have rendered enormous service in collecting all the available waggons and oxen in their district. Shortly after the war began, thousands of waggons commenced to slowly converge on the various centres decided upon, with orders to arrive at certain dates.

The work Mr Weil has undertaken, it will be easily understood, is a very difficult as well as a gigantic one, although it is almost impossible to convey any idea of the obstacles in the way of collecting so many waggons at a given time during actual warfare. The Boers were successful in capturing some of them, and it is not surprising, bearing in mind that many had to come by road from Bechuanaland and Griqualand West.

Mr Weil has undertaken to execute rapid orders for the Government of late to the extent of 1000 mules over sea, besides 4000 others on demand, and 2000 horses. It is to his wide experience, perfect grasp of details, untiring energy, and splendid organisation that Mr Julius Weil owes his wonderful success. A story is told of Mr Weil, who is, by the way, of only medium height and of very quiet manner, when addressing a meeting a,t Mafeking in connection with his election to the Cape Legislative Assembly. Referring to the progress made by the township and the services he had rendered, he said: — "Four years ago, gentlemen, there was not a child in the place ; now, gentlemen, there are over 100." Roars of laughter from the audience of miners and pioneers greeted this remark, and it is stated that the meeting was cut short at this juncture, but Mr Weil was> victorious in the election. — London Herald.