{ THE CROSSWORDS }

PUZZLE 16000

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 It is nominally unsuitable for an inhabitant (8) 5 Enjoy a match (4)

9 Political corruption in the nursery? (5) 10 Reports from the front? (7)

11 No prime consideration (12)

13 He tries to prevent ill-feeling (6)

14 Drapes carelessly strewn (6)

17 Classical part of Paris? (5,7)

20 Indian rain-maker (7)

21 Health-giving drink (5)

22 A way through on foot (4)

23 Shining example of top military wear (5,3)

DOWN

1 She comes up almost radiant! (4)

2 Trade in the streets (7)

3 and 12 Down:

You’d rather not be in this choice position (2,3,5,2,1,7)

4 Spectacles used by marksmen (6)

6 Freezing some confectionery (5)

7 Balanced mixed diet that rounds off the day (8) 8 Combines with a number in involved perorations (12)

12 See 3 Down

15 It clears one’s vision - to humbug? (7) 16 Revolutionary artist? (6)

18 Medicine that may be mixed with gin (5) 19 Retainer for a writer (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Catastrophe (8) 5 Resound (4) 9 Vertically (5) 10 Defeat decisively (7) 11 Noisy and unruly (12) 13 Public discussion (6) 14 In short supply (6) 17 Moment of decisive change (7,5) 20 An English cheese (7) 21 Lying flat (5) 22 Poverty (4) 23 A guarantee (8)

DOWN

1 Deceive (4) 2 Sleep (7) 3 Bear out (12) 4 One or the other (6) 6 Division of long poem (5) 7 Go beyond (8) 8 Fall heavily (4,1,7) 12 Zealous supporter (8) 15 Dilapidated (3-4) 16 Things to be done (6) 18 To rear (5) 19 Resist attempts at (4)