RECRUITING.
The 16th Reserve Division is recruited from the Rhine Province and all the Rhine districts. Thus, in October, 1916, it received men from the mining district of Westphalia, and also in March, 1917.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 16th Reserve Division was a good division. It was very much exhausted on April 16 and 17, 1917, in the Cerny sector. During this action the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment was remarkable for its desperate resistance and had only 50 prisoners taken.
During its stay in Lorraine (May and June, 1917) the 16th Reserve Division maintained a purely defensive attitude. The losses suffered on the Aisne and the nature of the replacements received appear to have sensibly diminished the combat value of the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment.
In October, 1917, on the Galician front, the 16th Reserve Division was considered incapable of participating in active operations because of the large proportion of older men and the weakness of its effectives (according to prisoners’ statements).
1918.
Picardy.
1. The division attacked on March 21 south of Marcoing. It was taken out on the 3d day of the offensive and sent to rest in the Ancre area. About April 10 the division relieved the 107th Division on the Ancre and held a sector until the 107th Division returned and relieved on April 27.