Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--Joe Jones of Independence spent Saturday and Sunday here with his brothers, Isaac and Richard, and other relatives and friends. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--28 Feb 1919--While at work in the Walton mine one day last week, Will Longdon Jr. had his left hand severely mashed and will be kept from work for some time. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--A LETTER FROM J. H. BRADLEY--J. H. Bradley, who left here some time ago for Arizona, intending to make it his home, writes from Glendale, under date of Feb. 18: "I will write you a few lines according to promise, so our many Higbee friends may here from us. We left Moberly Jan 30. Had to wait in Kansas City about three hours, which time was well spent in viewing the magnificent depot and other sights. We left at 10 over the Rock Island. Saw beautiful farming sections of Kansas; also some rough country. We passed through Oklahoma and a corner of Texas in the night and through new Mexico in the day time. Here we passed by mountains on both sides of the road for several hundred miles. I think I have traveled over most of north Missouri and seen some rough places, but never had I seen anything so rough and forsaken. Cactus, sage brush and mountain cedar was about all the vegetation we could see. Saw lots of snow in New Mexico. I saw rock houses that looked to be about 4 feet wide, 6 feet long and 6 feet high. I inquired what they were and was informed they were Indian houses. We passed through Ft. Bliss at El Paso. It is a beautiful place. Here we crossed the Rio Grand river. This was once a large river, but now it has a large reservoir in it about 50 miles north of El Paso, said to be the largest in the world, and watering a large and fertile valley. So in the main channel of the river was a Mexican village. The houses reminded me of chicken coops. When we crossed the river the conductor told me we were within 60 yards of Old Mexico. We followed the US and the Mexican line about 100 miles. Sometimes we were right on the border line. In every town we stopped there seemed to be lots of soldiers. We changed trains at Maricopa and reached Phoenix at 7 Saturday morning. When we got here it was raining, so we did not get to see much of the city for a few days, but now it has quite raining and the weather reminds one of sweet May time in Missouri. The sick folks that came with us--our little girl, Frances, and John Lay--were better when they got here and have continued to improve ever since. Phoenix is a city of about 40,000 inhabitants. It has the cleanest streets and is the most beautiful city I ever saw. Streets almost as level as a floor and as smooth as granite. Salt river has a reservoir in it that waters about 400,000 acres of land. That is not near all the valley, and they are talking of building a dam in another river. We traveled in an auto about 15 miles north of Phoenix and found the same paved roads to Glendale. It is the most beautiful country I have ever traveled over. Look most any way and you will see mountains, some of them in eight or ten miles of us and some of them about 60. We passed by olive orchards, orange, grape fruit and many other kinds of fruit trees. Oranges, grape fruit and dates are still hanging on the trees. Many of the fruit trees are in bloom. Gardens are looking very nice. I bought 40 acres of land, which is an average size farm here. Land sells high, $260 to $700 per acre. I have seen more sheep here than I had seen before in all my life. Fifteen hundred were feeding on my ranch. We went to the mountains Sunday evening. They are well named Rockies. Even the top of the one we were on, which was about 1500 feet high, was rock. Luther Warford and family arrived Thursday night. They seem to like it fine and intend to locate here. The people here are very sociable, yet we wish our many Missouri friends were here to help us enjoy the delightful climate. I have received one Higbee News and we sure appreciated it." Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--A LETTER FROM JODIE DOUGLAS--Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Douglas of near Rucker received the following letter from their son, Jodie, under date of Jan. 23, which we are permitted to publish: "Dear Parents. I have not heard from you for several days, but suppose the mail has been delayed. I am getting along fine. Never felt better in my life. The weather is very cold. The ground is frozen for the first time this winter, and it hasn 't rained for several days, which is a great relief. "We don't know anything about going home yet, but we are hoping we will be on the move soon. I am now a member of the 35th Division Military Police Co. I am separated from my company, although I still eat with them but have moved to different quarters to sleep. My duties are about the same as an ordinary policeman in the American city. I am not on duty more than four hours a day, and the rest of the time I spend sitting by the fire reading everything I can get hold of. There are twenty-five of the military police that were selected from different companies. I knew nothing of it until a man came to me and told me I had been selected for the M. P. The twenty-five of us went to headquarters and lined up before the Colonel who gave us our instructions and made a flowery speech to us. He told us how we had been selected from the various companies because we were the best soldiers in the Sanitary Train, for general conduct, personal appearance, intelligence, etc. (Of course, we know he didn't meant it). "I am walking the streets of a town with a big 45 caliber revolver strapped around my waist on the outside of my coat an two big red letters (M. P) on my right arm. We have rather strict orders to comply with, but we have almost unlimited authority in enforcing military laws, making arrest, etc. At time we may have to do detective work, such as watching for deserters from the army, and a thousand other things in the way of enforcing laws. We are supposed to know the location of all the organizations of the Division, which are usually scattered over thirty or forty miles of territory, and when the Division is on the move of course we will have a great deal more to do. We will have to maintain order and direct traffic on roads and street crossings, etc. Our company of military police is separated from the rest of them, but I will remain in the Sanitary Train and get the mail as usual. "It seems rather odd to think that I have spent several months on the different battle fronts and have gone through the biggest battles in the history of the world with a gun. I faced all the weapons that Germany could produce to destroy lives with and yet I was unarmed, and now that the fighting is over and I am in a quiet French town carrying a big 45 "loaded for bear." "The work is the easiest I have had since I joined the army. There may be times when it won't be exactly pleasant. The average soldier is not especially in love with the military police, but anyway the M. P. has it on them, for they can tell them what to do and they have to do it." Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--Pete Gruber, of Novinger bought the Joe Lowes residence property in the north part of town last Friday, for $1500. Mr. Gruber, we understand will move to the property as soon as it is vacated. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--J. D. Newman, who recently sold his farm east of town to Thos. Spurling, moved this week to the farm he purchased near Myers. The family is given up with regret by the entire vicinity. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--WILL KELSO WOUNDED--In the casualty list appearing in the papers of the 21st appeared the name of Will Kelso, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kelso of this place, who was reported as wounded, the extent of his injuries being undetermined. Mr. Kelso enlisted in Montana, where he had been farming for some time. His host of Higbee friends join the NEWS in the hope that his wounds are not serious and that he will soon be able to return home. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--W. A. Lyon writes us from Pine Bluff, Wyo., under date of the 22nd: "Just a few lines to let you know we are well and doing fine. We both had the flu but got over it OK. We are having fine weather, and have had all through January and this month. and we don't have mud, either. Enclosed find check for the NEWS, as we can't get along without it. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--Miss Clayton Smith was called to Paris Friday by the death of her great-uncle, Jerry Smith, and until her return, accompanied by her uncle, Jerry, the many friends of the latter were mourning his death. It had been 20 years since he moved away from the old burg, and he found many changes, and the town peopled with strangers, meeting only occasionally friends of former days. Mr. Smith is station agent for the Wabash in a little Illinois town near Chicago, and has been with that road for the past fifteen years. Except for being quite gray and much heavier, he was the same genial, big hearted Jerry as of yore. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--Born, on the 22nd to Mr. and Mrs. West Floyd, a daughter. Friday, 28 Feb 1919, Vol 32. No 45--A LETTER FROM MILLER PYLE--Miller Pyle, who recently landed in New York from France, writes us under date of the 20th, from Camp Meritt, NJ: "Friend Scott: I arrived in the good old USA Sunday Feb. 16, after a very rough voyage of seventeen days. I had six meals each day--three down and three up. I sure will be glad to get back home again among folks I know and forget all about war and its carnage. I did the little bit I could and am proud of my record and hope my friends are also. "I enlisted April 19, 1917, as a private and was promoted as follows; May 12, put first class; August 1, 1917, Corporal; October 24, Sergeant; Feb 25, 1918, Sergeant first class. Sailed from New York Dec 24, 1917; arrived at Liverpool Jan. 18, 1918; France, January 12, 1918; went into action March 15, 1918, on Verdun front, Baucamp Sector. Was in fifty-five days and several small frays, including battles of Valliers and Hadoumont. June 2 to June 27, Chateau Thierry, battles of Lucy del Nord, Baurshes, Bois de Belleau and Belleau Wood. This was by bath of blood and I was wounded at Bois de Belleau June 27 during the big fighting around Triangle Farm. My next was St. Mihiel, Battle of Thaicourt and Mont Sec, which was on Sept 4-8. Next was Champagne front battle of White Hill and St. Eitonne. Some very tough sledding along here. Next was Argonne, which was the end. During all this time I was attached to the Sixth Regiment of Marines, in charge of signals and communications. "I saw war in all its phases. I saw every modern and efficient means of destroying men and material. I saw the world organized into one huge gigantic engine of destruction. I saw the slave-wrought walls of great cathedrals, big business buildings and the little homes of the poor all a heap of debris and ruins--a perpetual monument to the kultur of William II and his Huns. Later I saw Huns fall like leaves at autumn time. I saw many airships and many hardships. I missed many meals and many beds. I ate everything from snails to horses. I slept in everything from shell holes to castles. I recently went up in a French observation balloon and the Germans sent me down. I was congratulated by a famous French general for my nerve in going up and my luck in missing the undertaker on my way down. I saw the "Tiger of France" on the fields of Champagne and the tears coursed down his cheeks as he saw the Yanks dying for his beloved France. "I traveled 7000 miles by water, 500 by rail and walked the rest of the way--which was some distance. I saw the principal cities of France and England, but believe me, Higbee will look like heaven to me, for I saw more hell in six months than Sherman did in four years. Will tell you the rest some day soon." Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.