Washington State Prepares for War
Governor Rogers calls the National Guard to full strength as tensions mount over Cuba.
Governor Rogers has ordered that the 10 companies of infantry and two of cavalry composing the National Guard of Washington shall be immediately recruited to their fullest strength of 60 men each for infantry and 80 men for cavalry companies. Recruiting is being carried on actively and enthusiastically. Governor Rogers will spend an evening this week with the officers of the two Tacoma companies and another evening with the Seattle companies to discuss the matter.
“Recruiting is being carried on actively and enthusiastically.”
This rapid mobilization occurred during the lead-up to the Spanish-American War, highlighting Washington's role in the Pacific theater of national military policy. It illustrates how the state's civic machinery shifted almost instantly toward war-readiness during international crises.
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