The Japanese responded to the Wushe killings with massive force, bombarding the aborigines 'mountain stronghold from the air, though without managing to subdue them. Finally the Japanese opted to "fight barbarians with barbarians," using inducements to recruit Atayals from another district, who attacked and defeated the defiant tribesmen.
後來日本政府動員大批武力，企圖以飛機大砲強攻原住民藏匿的山頭，仍久攻不下，後來「以蕃制蕃」，誘使泰雅族另一蕃社的族人代其出征，才攻下了「叛亂」部族。