6. The 18th Division was relieved about October 14 and transferred to Russia, where it made a rather short stay in the Vilna area.
Alsace.
7. It was back in Upper Alsace about the end of November, in the region of Mulhouse, at the beginning of February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 18th Division is recruited from Schleswig-Holstein (Prussians and Danes). A certain proportion of Poles from Silesia appeared in the replacements of 1917 (especially in the 31st Infantry Regiment).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 18th Division has always passed as being a good division. However, in the course of the Franco-British attack of October 9, 1917, none of its elements carried out the counterattacks described by their leaders; however, in order to form a correct judgment of this, one must take account of the intensity of the bombardment, the state of the terrain, and the weakness of the effectives in line at that moment.
1918.
Cambrai.
1. The 18th Division left Alsace, entraining at Mulhouse, about the 12th of February, and traveled via Thionville and Sedan to Bertry, where it detrained after a journey of 2½ days. It relieved the 107th Division near Gonnelieu (south of Cambrai) the 16th. It was withdrawn the beginning of March, and had a few days’ training near Ligny en Cambresis.