CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Posted to different military bases (6)

4 Water-tight vessels required for sea-trips, one hears (6)

9 He makes arrangements for trippers! (13)

10 To reach greater heights is to prove awkward (7)

11 From south or north it has a penetrative effect (5)

12 It’s the custom to avail oneself of silver inside (5)

14 Sounds splendid as a place for firing (5)

18 The point of the story conforming to ethical standards (5)

19 Unrestrained racket by a social worker (7)

21 America put a crew on the vessel – that’s good diplomacy (13)

22 Foreign governess timed to arrive before Ann returns (6) 23 Service battery to launch an attack (6)

DOWN

1 One qualified as an expert in physics (6)

2 One in this office takes the chair (13)

3 Defray somebody’s costs for an enjoyable occasion (5)

5 The cleric takes in a nuclear device (7)

6 One who will certainly be class-conscious (6-7)

7 Bound to act as a shock absorber (6)

8 Open-mouthed at the lovefeast (5)

13 Vessel requiring a certain amount of water round the end of the gunwale (7)

15 In the morning, accustomed to being diverted (6)

16 First to start the pump working (5)

17 This will secure a kind of diet (6)

20 Chew a piece of gum unchecked (5)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: 1 For the better. 7 Baton. 8 Brake. 9 Din. 10 On the mend. 11 Falter. 12 Maiden. 15 Twenty-one. 17 Owl. 18 Deter. 19 Irate.

21 Draw interest.

Down: 1 Field of study. 2 Hit. 3 Bonito. 4 Tableware. 5 Evade. 6 Leading light. 7 Banal. 10 Overthrow. 13 Drove. 14 Motion. 16 Enter. 20 Awe.