The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-13
RUSSIA E PEzsIMlISTIC
 ~ AbSeng. of News Causes Fears. STAFF coUNsELsPATIENcE Kuropatkin Has Rlsked Much
 on Advance. If His Troops Are Driven Back, It Means That Port Arthur Can
 not be Relieved This
STAFF C0UNSELS PATIENCE

St. Petersburg, Oct. 13-(3:20 a. m.)--- No official news of the result of todays battle south of Mukden is available at this hour. General Kuropatkin doubt less has communicated his regular re- port to Emperor Nicholas at Tsarkoe- Selo, but the despatch was not sent back to the geenral stan tonight.
 So the latest word from Russian sources is contained in the Associated Press despatch from Mukden. As IS natural, the absence of official news Is pessimistically interpreted in many quarters, but the general stan. though reticent, counsels patience. pointing that the offensive movement was plan ned upon a large scale and has not yet reached a stage where a decisive result could have been attained.
 The frontal attack on the Yentai mines developed a desperate battle in which probably 100000 men are en- gagged; but though the despatches so far deal almost exclusively with this feature of the battle. it is pointed out that there is much wider field in- volved.
 No Fight on the Left.
 A fight on the Russian left flank has not developed and possibly here Gen- eral Kuropatkin intends to deliver his mAln DlOW., w ndt kOECG ID R11Atft& tOA ' ward in this direction behind the screen containing the column at Shantin Tai Dze is unknown. but the appearance to- night of a Russian column at Tsyan- chan. thirty miles southeast of Mukden. striking at Field Marshal Oyama's com munications with the Yalu and the knowledge that another column Is already across the Taftse River gives evidence of the wide nature of the turning movement
 It is possible that the attack on the Yentai mines may simply be intended to hold the main Japanese force sta tionary and that the outcome of the Yentai light may have little bearing on the result of the general engagement.
 Russians OutnuHaber Japs.
 While 1t is now asserted that GeneFal Ktropatkin enjoys a considerable numerical superiority. the main fear ex- pressed is that his superiority is in- suficient to enable him to carry out the big operations he has undertaken.
 Approximation Is caused by the Tokio despatch saying that Field Marshal Oyama reports that he is gaining ground and has cut of a Russian column below the Taitse River. It is only natural. after the repeated reverses already suf- fered, that Russians fully realize how much General Kuropatkin has staked upon the assumption of the offensive.
 The battle now In progress undoubt edly will outweigh In importance the hard fight at Liaoyang. For Kuro- patkin. victory. partial or complete. is absolutely necessary. Defeat would certainly spell ruin for his military reputation and probably prove dis aster of the first magnitude to the Rus sian army.
 KuropatIkin's Great Risk.
 If the Japanese should roll up Kuro- patkin's advance now. all hope of an aggressive Russian success in this campaign or of relief of Port Arthur would be ended probably for this year. but Russian success now means a win ter campaign and immensely enhanced prestige, not only for Kuropatkin per- sonally, but the Russian arms In Man churia, in the eyes of the Chinese, which is an important factor in the present situation.
 The effect also of defeat upon the gallant garrison at Port Arthur after hopes of relief had been held out. would be ost disastrous. For all these reasons General Kuropatkin'S , friends are convinced that the offen- sive was taken with open eyes and with a full appreciation of its difficult ties and A firm belief that victory would be achieved.
 On the other hand, some of his enc mics are kind enough to intimate that General Kuropatkln has rashly risked his army, knowing that victory now | will insure his selection as his com. mander-in-ch of both the Manchu' rian armies.