Editing Battle of Maychew (section)

==Retreat==
On the night of 2 April, the Emperor finally [[Retreat to Lake Ashenge|ordered a retreat]]. The retreating columns set off before dawn the next day towards [[Lake Hashenge]] and the highlands of Korem. Haile Selassie, wearing a [[pith helmet]], rode a white horse and the retreat was initially not chaotic. In the early morning, circumstances changed as two latent threats materialized.  The Azebo Oromos started attacking the flanks and Italian aircraft arrived. The Imperial Guard, as part of the rear guard commanded by ''Asmach'' Getachew, lost more men over the next two days than were lost during the battle.<ref name="Mockler, p. 121">Mockler, p. 121</ref>

Late on 3 April, the Ethiopian columns reached Korem and the relative safety of the highlands.  It was now decided that the columns would be dispersed.  As a result, all semblance of order and organization were lost.<ref name="Mockler, p. 121"/>  In the early morning of 4 April, the battle weary and thirsty survivors of the Emperor's army struggled towards Lake Ashangi. Roughly 20,000 Ethiopians crossed the open plain towards Lake Ashangi and, due to brutal attacks from the Azebo Oromos and due to near continuous attacks from the air, thousands would be lost before they got close to the lake's shore. Worse, the water of Lake Ashangi had been sprayed with deadly chemicals by the Italian Royal Air Force and was poisoned by the time the Emperor's army arrived, causing soldiers to die both from fumes and from drinking the water. Late on 4 April, Haile Selassie looked with despair upon the horrific sight of the dead bodies of much of his army ringing the poisoned lake.<ref name=Barker105 /><ref>{{Cite news |title=DEFEAT IS IN SIGHT, ETHIOPIANS ADMIT; BLAME POISON GAS; HAILE SELASSIE IN PERIL Foe May Surround Him if His Troops Fail to Stem Advance. MUSTARD GAS HITS MANY Women and Children Among Victims Burned by Chemical Dropped by Enemy Fliers. INVADERS AT LAKE TANA Emperor's Troops Reported in Retreat Near Ashangi Are Harassed by Planes. DEFEAT IS IN SIGHT, ETHIOPIANS ADMIT |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/04/04/88648732.html?pageNumber=1 |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Pilgrimage to Lalibella and plan to stand at Dessie===
It was believed among the Ethiopians that it might be possible to make a stand at Dessie. The [[Crown Prince]] [[Amha Selassie|Asfa Wossen]] had been sent there to raise a new army. With the Crown Prince in Dessie were [[Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles|''Shum'']]{{#tag:ref|Roughly equivalent to [[Governor]].|group=nb}} [[Wadajo Ali]] and [[Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles|''Fitawrari'']]{{#tag:ref|Roughly equivalent to Commander of the Advanced Guard.|group=nb}} [[Fikremariam]]. Wadajo Ali was the "real" Governor of [[Wollo]] and Fikremariam commanded the Guard and the [[Shewa]]n garrison at Dessie. Ammunition and supplies were accumulated in anticipation of protracted operations in the north.<ref name="Mockler, p. 122">Mockler, p. 122</ref>

Before getting to Dessie, the Emperor decided to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of [[Lalibella]]. Included in the Emperor's retinue was [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]] ''[[Abuna]]''{{#tag:ref|Roughly equivalent to [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan Bishop]].|group=nb}} Petros, [[Ethiopian ecclesiastical titles|Etchage]]{{#tag:ref|Roughly equivalent to [[Abbot]].|group=nb}} [[Gabre Giyorgis]], ''Ras'' Kassa, ''Dejazmach'' [[Adafersaw Yenadu]],  ''Dejazmach'' Wondosson Kassa, and ''Dejazmach'' Aberra Kassa. From 12 April<ref name="Barker, p. 106">Barker, p. 106</ref> the Emperor spent three days there in prayer.<ref>Mockler, p. 123</ref> On 15 April, Haile Selassie left Lalibella and rejoined his army as it continued its plodding march towards Dessie. At [[Magdala]], the Emperor was to learn that the Crown Prince had abandoned Dessie on 14 April without firing a shot. He also learned that the city was already occupied by the Eritreans. The Emperor's column turned towards [[Were Ilu|Worra Ilu]], but runners then brought the news that Worra Ilu had fallen too. By forced march, the Emperor and his party made their way to [[Fiche, Ethiopia|Fikke]] in Salale.<ref name="Barker, p. 106"/>

On 20 April, Marshal Badoglio flew to Dessie. He noted great strips of cloth stretched across the decorated streets.  On the cloth, the local population had written: "The Hawk has flown."<ref name="Mockler, p. 122"/>

On 26 April, when Badoglio launched his "[[March of the Iron Will]]" towards Addis Ababa, he faced no meaningful Ethiopian resistance.<ref name=Barker109>[[#Barker|Barker 1971]], 109.</ref>

===Addis Ababa===
From Fikke, Haile Selassie made his way towards Addis Ababa. By 1 May, he had arrived in the capital. This was one month after the Battle of Maychew. With him were ''Ras'' Kassa and ''Asmach'' Getachew. When the Emperor arrived, he found a city in a state of near panic.<ref name=Mockler133>[[#Mockler|Mockler]], 133.</ref>