It was obvious that the liberation of Ioannina would require months of preparations. In the meantime, Filippiada attracted curious busybodies eager to find out what was happening in the front lines. Among them lurked numerous spies, who tried to inform the Ottoman authorities on Greek preparations. The situation was so bad that any Greek officers who wished to discuss critical confidential matters had to seek the necessary privacy in the countryside. The greatest concern arose from the presence of foreign military attachés and embassy personnel who could not be turned away without diplomatic repercussions but who were also sometimes keen to help the Ottoman army.