By this date in 1918, the Division was getting beyond the confusion of organizing and training, coping with the dearth of weapons and supplies and conflicting orders from Washington.  But there was still work to be done.  The passage below is from “The History of the Thirty-Third Division, Volume I”

Published by the Illinois Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1921. (TLT)

 

March 19 was notable for the visit of Brigadier General W. A. White, Royal Army, who was in charge of recruiting for the British in the United States and Canada, who delivered an address in Houston.  A Division School of Operations was established, with sessions on the evenings of Tuesday and Thursday of each week, for the purpose of familiarizing principal officers of the command with the fundamentals of organization, staff work, billeting and supply.  By far the most important event of that day was the receipt of a telegram from Major General Thomas H. Barry, commanding the 86^th Division at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois announcing that 2,700 men be transferred to the 33^rd division within the next eight days, and asking whether they can be received.  An affirmative response was immediately telegraphed and preparations were begun for the care of this increment which had been expected for more than three months.