The phrase ‘The world wonders’ was originally included as a nonsensical filler in a secret message sent by Admiral Chester Nimitz to Admiral William Halsey, Jr. during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944. Its purpose was to add an extra layer of complexity to the message, aiming to thwart Japanese codebreakers. However, this padding was inadvertently retained in the message’s final translation delivered to Halsey. Misinterpreted by Halsey as a biting and ironic criticism, it led him to prematurely cease his engagement with a Japanese carrier group. This decision was made under the mistaken belief that he needed to urgently support U.S. forces during the Battle off Samar, diverting his focus from the original task