The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
DAUGHTER
ROMPED IN TRENCHES
Wee Waif Adopted by British
Soldiers Played in Safety
on Parapet.
specisI Cs~vsspondescs 10 Tas Sru.

LONDON. Feb. 26.-The story Of how q
little girl. found in the firing line, wa,
adopted by a British regiment has beer
told by a soldier back from the front &c
a traveller who relates his experiences IN
4 the Northampton Daily Echo.
About eight months ago." ne said,
t h company were trudging along for
the FIRST line Of trenches when one Of the
men-his name was Philip Impey-
found the child in q ditch by the road.
side. No n could 70 back, and the
soldiers took the girl into the trench
and made her as comfortable As possi-
bic. In a few days she had recovered
from the Ill effects OF the wet and ex-
posture and was running UP and down
the trench. the pet Of all the officers and
men.
one day a bomb nearly filled In part
OF the trench. When the men had re-
covered from the shock the sergeant
major askeda man TO 20 and see that
the child was safe. They had left her
asleep In a mug corner. and there they
found her. still sleeping.
The German trenches were about $50
" tI. dtll ne ltNtl. open space pt-
tween the two lines wasn't healthy. No
mar vino valued his life would go there
unnecessarily. or recklessly put his head
above the parapet. one morning, TO their
horror. the men. through the periscope,
saw the child standing above the trench
on the German side. Cries came from
the enemy. but they were not hostile.
The sight OF the girl. little more than an
infant. had touched their sentimental
side. and h had offers OF chocolates
and invitations to 20 and see them.
After that the girl went over the
parapet quite often. She WAS as safe
behind the lines. No German would
harm her. u once She went close up
to their first line trench"
The eight days trench duty ended. tho
little daughter OF the company was taken
back and was not allowed to get between
the lines again. She was taken charge
OF by the company storekceper. who had
children OF his own and was nightly
proud OF his skill in dressing and un-
dressing the child and his s~trictness
about the morning bath. All tho men
made a fuss OF her. and she OF them.
The boys in khaki are her playmates and
she goes up TO any Tommy with a smile
of complete trust.
- W. hlN'i CIV was l'uliu VIC rflt
thought that she ought 10 have n name.
lmpey. who found her. was now
dead and they gave her his surname.
with Phyllis "A the nearest approach 10
After she had been six months
with the company the sergeant-maior
was wounded and came to "A hospital in
The girl came with him and
in hospital too. the pet OF pa |
and nurses.
She has now been taken by her
adopted "daddy"-the serreant-major-
TO Bedford, where she will have a
woman's care and still be attached TO the
regiment.
The p~arentare OF the child and how
came TO he deserted IN the ditch at
La Bassee remain an unsolved mystery. |
She was too Young TO know her name or
% give any account OF herself. There IL
4 suggestion of terror stricken flight In
he fact that she Is afraid of a German
For the khaki and ~becapped
she has an affection. but II n
Tommy puts n helmet on she shrinks
way as In fear.