CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Strikes – they’re kept at arm’s length (5)

4. Fabricates a tale and resolves the quarrel (5,2)

8. Fire raisers (7)

9. Called young Edward around before noon (5) 10 & 16Ac. He creates an impression as producer of signs on the railway track? (4-8)

11. Alas, one’s confusion is expected at a certain time (8)

13. Advanced for forty days (4)

14. Look closely, we hear, for support (4)

16. See 10 Across

17. Cost of travelling to the distant East (4)

20. Authoritative proclamation wrongly cited (5)

21. A problem for the sorter of letters (7)

22. Is this operated by a footman? (7)

23. Rocky bed for a hen (5)

DOWN

1. An ally makes the commanding officer fierce (13)

2. Criminal is dropped on, by the sound of it (5)

3. Arrest vessels coming back (4)

4. Failed to make contact – poor visibility, we hear (6)

5. The Royal Barge? (8)

6. Advanced study group remains in disorder (7)

7. Vessel made from dead palm-trees (6,7)

12. This clue is not needed (8)

13. The end of the fuel to catch fire! (7)

15. Seabed can be made lower! (6)

18. Dress in clear rayon (5)

19. Shower with greeting? (4)