The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-13
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St Petersburg, Oct. 13.-(S:2O a. m.). No official news of t..c result of today's bat tie south of Mukden is available at this hour. General Kuropatkn doubtless has communicated his regular report to- the emperor at Tskarko- Selo, but the dispatch was not sent back to the general staff to- night. So the latest word from Russian sources is contained in the Associated Press dispatch from Mukden.
 As is natural, the absence of official news Is pessimistically interpreted in many quarters, put the general staff, though reticent, counsels patience, point ing out that the offensive movement was planned upon large scale and has not yet reached stage where decisive re- suit could have been attained. The from tai attack on the Yenrai mines developed A desperate battle in which probably 100- o0o men are eng lge.-, but though the dis patches so far deal almost exclusively with this feature of the battle, it is nointed out that rKere' fs-eH-much wider field involved.
 Strikes at Communications.
 fight on the Russian left flank has not developed and positively here General Kuropatkin intends to deliver hls main blow. What force is pushing forward in 4. ..s direction behind the screen contain Ing the column at Shan Tin Tai Dze, is unknown, but the appearance tonight of Russian column at Tzanehan, thirty miles southeast of Mukden, striking at Field Marsal Oyama's communications
 &l.1 lodi another column is already across the Taitse 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 stationary, and that the outcome of the Yentai fight may have little bearing on the result or the general engagement.
 While it is now asserted that General Kuropatkin enejoys a considerable nus merical superiority, the main fear ex- presscd is that his superiority is insuf- ncient to enable him to carry out the big operations he has undertaken.
 oyama Gaining Ground.
 Apprehension is caused by the Tokio disnatch saying that Field Marshal Ovama reports that he is gaining ground and has cut off a Russian column below the Taitse river. It is only natural, after the repeated reverses already suffered, that the Russians fully realize how much General Kuropatkin has staked upon the assumption of the offensive.
 The battle now in progress undoubtedly will outweigh in importance the hard fight at Liao Yang. For Kuropatkin vic tory. partial or complete, is absolutely necessary Defeat would certainly spell ruin for his military reputation, and probably prove a disaster of the hrst magnitude to the Russian army
 If the Japanese should roll up kuro- patkins advance now, all hope Of an aggressive Russian success in this cam paign, or of relief of Port Arthur would be ended probably for this year, but Rus sian success now means a winter cam paign and immensely enhanced prestige, not only for Kuropatkin personally, but for the Russian arms in Manchuria, in the eyes of the Chinese, which is an inn portant factor in the present situation The effect also of defeat upon the gal lant garrison of Port Arthur after hopes of relief had been held out would be most disastrous
 For all these reasons General Kuropat- kin's friends are convinced that the of- fensive was taken with open eyes and with full appreciation of it's difficulties and a firm belief that victory would be achieved. On the other hand, some of his enemies are kind enough to intimate that General Kuropatkin has rashly risked his army, knowing that victory now will insure his selection as com mander-in-chief of both the Manchurian armies.