New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-12
Mr.. cnNGER,s LATEST KoRn.

The latest dispatch from Mr.. Conger at Picking
should be stimulating rather than dishearten-
ing. The situation he says, lis desperate"
No rational man has supposed 1t to be any
thing else at any moment in the last two
months. We have long been facing the posi-
bility, we may say the most imminent danger,
of the total destruction OF the legations and
their inmates. The time is past for such re-
minder 10 arouse panic or to plunge men into
despair. Rather should Il now provoke the
Powers TO redoubled efforts for the rescue of the
heroic little band which has so long held out
against fearful odds, and whose spokesman In
this latest message bravely declares I'VE Will
hold on indefinitely" No doubt they will.
That is the conduct we naturally expect of
Americans, and assume that all Mr.. Con-
gers comrades, Of whatever nationality are
worthy Of him. But 1t would be a hideous re-
proach to the Powers and TO all Christian civil
ization II they were compelled to "hod on in
definitely" For Of that the end would be death
We know that no matter how high their cour-
age, they cannot hold out forever. All the spirit
of Londonderry and Lucknow may be concen-
tired and embodied there, and yet without
relief the fatal end is sure The answer to Mr.
Conger-in addition 20 whatever message may
be sent by wire-should be a swift and irresisti-
bic onrushing of our troops toward the walls of
Picking.
There is, happily every indication that such
a movement will be made Whether the con-
certed action Of the various forces will be main
tained TO the end is perhaps open to doubt
Indications Of discord crop up now and then.
II has not been found practicable to appoint any
supreme commander over ali the forces as
might have been expected. The talk about
Count Won WalderSee is. OF course all moon
shine. The Count is a most estimable officer.
of higher rank than any other now or likely to
be in China. If he were at this moment on the
field. there is no telling what might occur. But
it viii be many weeks before he sets foot in
China. By that time, it is well to be believed.
the international movement will be over and
ended. Certainly Picking will be entered long
before he gets there-if ever II is to be entered
al al. as the world assumes 1t Is And when that
is done, the Ministers rescued and their lasting
security provided for. and suitable amends are
made for the recent outrages, then at least two
Of the Powers most concerned will have no
further business with armies on Chinese soil
and will withdraw. 1t may be- Of course. that
Germany viii continue TO wage a war of ven
geance against China for the murder of her
Minister. If so. she could probably have no
better man at the head Of her army than Count
Won Waldersee But she will scarcely expect
the armies Of other nations 10 remain there and
help her fight out her private quarrels Count
Won WaIdersee will be commanderin-chief, but
il will not be Of an international army march
ing to the relief of the Picking legations
II is officially announced that Russia has
departed from the general policy of all the other
Sewers in approving the departure of her Min