RECRUITING.
The 31st Division is recruited mostly from the vicinity of Sarrebrucken and St. Wendel in the Rhine Province. Most of the replacements are furnished by Westphalia.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 31st Division was on the Russian front from February, 1915 to December 1917. The quality is mediocre.
1918.
Ypres.
1. From January 19 to February 4 the division held the Moorslede sector (south of Ypres-Roulers railway). The division rested until the 14th in the vicinity of Lendelede. It relieved the 12th Reserve Division on the 14th in its old sector at Moorslede which it held until March 3, and again from March 21 until April 4.
Battle of the Lys.
2. About April 4 the division was withdrawn and marched to the Messines front. The route lay through Menin, Werwicq, Comines, Warneton. It was engaged on April 10 to 12 in the Bois de Ploegsteert. For its fighting in this area the division was mentioned by the German communique of April 13. From the 12th to the 17th, it was in second line. It fought south and southwest of Kemmel from April 18 to 24 when it passed into close support until the 26th. The division’s losses were large in this severe engagement. The 3d Battalion of the 174th Regiment is known to have lost from 60 to 70 per cent of its effectives.
3. When relieved in the Kemmel area, the division rested north of Tourcoing until May 6, undergoing reconstitution. It returned to line north of Kemmel on the night of May 6–7, relieving the Alpine Corps. It suffered heavily from the French attack of May 21, losing many prisoners. It was relieved on May 24, and rested in the Courtrai-Menin area until June 15. It was engaged in the sector south of Ypres from June 15 until July 27.