 It was not until a month later when a second Italian column advanced from the south through the Wadara Forest that "Ras" Desta at last left Irgalem, which was occupied 1 December.With "Dejazmach" Gabremariam, "Dejazmach" Beyene Merid ("Shum" of Bale Province), and a dwindling number of soldiers, for the next few months "Ras" Desta eluded the Italians until they were trapped near Lake Shala in the Battle of Gogetti and annihilated.Wounded, "Ras" Desta managed to escape, only to be caught and executed near his birthplace.