VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 33d Reserve Division is a good division.
At Verdun elements of the division fought vigorously and made the French advance very difficult on October 24, 1916.
Between May 5 and May 7, 1917, the division launched very violent counterattacks against Laffaux Mill. Elements of the 364th Infantry Regiment succeeded in capturing the Chateau de la Motte. In the sector of Beaumont at Verdun the 1st Battalion of the 364th Infantry Regiment put up a very stubborn resistance to the French on August 26, 1917.
The 33d Reserve Division was very much exhausted by the attacks on the Aisne. The reenforcement which it received on May 4, 1917, were mostly men belonging to the 1918 class. On August 26, 1917, more than one-fourth of the prisoners belonged to this class.
In January, 1918, it already counted among its ranks young men of the 1919 class, who had arrived on January 14.
Taking into account its recent long rest and its intensive training in offensive warfare and the declarations of prisoners captured in March, 1918, who all declare that their division is an assault division destined to take part in a great breaking through offensive, we must conclude that the 33d Reserve Division has again become an organization of high quality (Mar. 30, 1918).
1918.
Battle of the Aisne.
1. The division continued to hold its sector northwest of Rheims until the Aisne offensive in May. It advanced with the rest of the line, having as its objective the Marne River. It progressed through Cauroy (27th), St. Thierry (28th), and Vrigny (31st). Here the line was stabilized. The division was withdrawn June 20.