Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 316
316 the assassination of the heir-apparent of Austria-Hungary and his wife became the cause of the war and not some disputes between nations. The second feature of the war foretold in the prophecy was that it would impact the whole world. Never before had there been a calamity that impacted the entire world in this way. Europe was already at the centre of the war. Asia quickly became involved, fol - lowed by China, Japan and India. A German battleship attacked Indian shores from the Indian Ocean. Iran was the scene of fight - ing between British and Turk forces. Iranians had trouble with the German Consulate. Fighting took place in Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Siberia, and in many parts of Africa. South Africa attacked German West Africa. There was upheaval in South Africa itself. German colonies were attacked in East Africa. On the West coast, fighting took place in the Cameroons. Conflict erupted on the border between Egypt and Tripoli. A German battleship attacked parts of Australasia before being finally cornered. There was fight - ing in New Guinea. British and German navies encountered each other near the American coast. Canada and the United States entered the war. South American states declared war on Germany. In short, no part of the world remained uninvolved in the war. Another description given in the prophecy was that moun - tains and cities would be destroyed and fields would be devas - tated. This is what transpired. Many hills disappeared because of bombings or the use of mines, and many cities were reduced to rubble. Germany had to pay huge reparations for rebuilding these cities and is still paying them. The damage done to farms and fields was beyond reckoning. Wherever foreign forces advanced,