In this battle, the contribution of the Regia Aeronautica was decisive as it decimated the Ethiopian troops on the shores of Lake Ashenge, effectively causing the dissolution of the last army of the northern front.

On the 31st of that same month, at dawn, the Abyssinians attacked the Alpine troops of the "Pusteria" but were blocked and then finally repelled, however the imperial guard managed to conquer several positions against the 2nd Eritrean Division without succeeding properly in carrying out the planned breakthrough of the Italian lines.

[1] While the emperor was drawing up plans to attempt further resistance, the Italian 1st Army Corps emerged from the trenches of Maychew and began a rapid advance, sweeping away the Ethiopian troops left behind in the rear guard placed under the command of Ras Ghetacciù and occupying the same day of April 3 the Amba Gudom and Ezbà pass.

Hailé Selassie, wearing a pith helmet and riding a white horse, then began his retreat in an orderly manner, attacked by the Azebo Galla tribes on the flanks of the Ethiopian army.

[1] The Retreat of Lake Ashange caused the complete disintegration of the imperial army; the emperor, renouncing any desire for revenge, especially due to the lack of a sufficient number of men capable of facing a battle, decided to break away from the pressing action of the Italian troops.

Having abandoned the idea of retreating to Dessiè, which was too subject to attacks by the Italian air force, he decided to proceed along impervious and little-known paths: marching only at night until he could see the shores of the Tekezé.