XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1039

TEGMEN def. LEGION

1.  T. E. Bell: The capsule will bring ’em back with added gravitational force after ten orbits (force; ’em (rev.) + g in ten; orbits, vb.).

2.  C. Allen Baker: One of many users of sheepskin chaps (or hide) (many; i.e. teg men: ref. chaps = chaparajos).

3.  S. Holgate: Strong wing forward needed—could well be last in first division without wingers (division; strong; firs(t) + (s)egmen(t)).

V.H.C. (extra prizes)

Col P. S. Baines: The F.B.I. follow an endless number. There’s protection in flight (endless; te(n) + G-men).

Dr R. L. H. Barnard: A covering military force after the strategists’ heart (force; ((stra)teg(ists) men).

J. W. Bates: An envelope, for example, the opening of many being compassed by X (many; e.g. m(any) in ten; ref. Ximenes comp.).

J. A. Blair: Dig in retreat with troops providing cover (troops; get (rev.) + men; dig = understand, Suppt.).

D. L. L. Clarke: Under-cover F.B.I. agents after atomic material, unit 52, in short (unit; Te (= tellurium) + G-men).

P. M. Coombs: The last thing to act? Here’s an example, “Soldiers”, that covers (soldiers; (ac)t e.g. men).

J. Crowther: Shell to hit retreating troops (troops; get (rev.) + men).

J. Gill: Forward wing shielding body running backwards screws gem into net (body; anag. in net (rev.)).

E. M. Hornby: Protection is the beginning and end of the police force (force; t(h)e G-men).

J. R. Kirby: What may be a protective body covering over and around for example the forepart of the mantis (body; e.g. m in (mosquito) net (rev.), & lit.).

J. Sparrow: Covering force of F.B.I. agents following Texas’s leaders (force; Te(xas) G-men).

T. L. Strange: A coat for example is a necessary sight in the north country draughts (sight (= a great many); e.g. in t’ men).

K. Thomas: Cockroach case: cigarette butts give crime fighters lead (fighters; (cigaret)te + G-men).

G. A. Tomlinson: Wing covering centre of section cut off behind last of host (host; (hos)t + (s)egmen(t)).

Dr E. Young: Come back, troops—that shell is live (troops; get (rev.) + men).

H.C.

W. G. Arnott, F. D. H. Atkinson, W. A. Barnard, N. S. Barrett, R. T. Baxter, Mrs K. Bissett, Rev L. Blackburn, T. H. Bowes, C. O. Butcher, J. T. Catlow, E. Chalkley, R. N. Chignell, J. G. Chilvers, Mrs M. P. Craine, N. C. Dexter, J. A. Fincken, A. L. Freeman, R. M. Greenhalgh, E. W. Harper, J. G. Hull, R. H. F. Isham, L. W. Jenkinson, Sir S. Kaye, A. Lawrie, K. F. Lawton, L. F. Leason, A. F. Lerrigo, J. P. Lester, Dr T. J. R. Maguire, E. L. Mellersh, D. P. M. Michael, C. G. Millin, C. J. Morse, F. Moss, F. E. Newlove, C. J. Oberst, S. L. Paton, Miss M. J. Patrick, R. Postill, T. E. Sanders, D. J. Short, F. G. Simms, Sir W. Slimmings, W. Spendley, R. Stephenson, F. B. Stubbs, J. G. Stubbs, J. D. Walsh, P. Watson-Smyth, G. R. Webb, J. F. N. Wedge, A. R. Wheatley, J. B. Widdowson, G. H. Willett.
 

COMMENTS:—About 530 entries and no mistakes at all in solution among the 90 odd which formed my short list. I don’t know when I have taken longer to judge a competition; for a long time none stood out far, and the eventual first two prize- winners (latish arrivals) both gave me qualms for some time, much as I liked them. I was dubious about “capsule” as a definition, but at last I decided to pass it; I thought “hide” as a definition wanted a query after it, but at last I decided that “or” helped and decided to pass that. They are certainly the two most brilliant clues in other respects. The best of the others were very level; clues like “Bring back soldiers to give cover”—neat and sound—were far too numerous to be in the running for prizes; and with “get back” this type was too easy.
 
There was a good deal of unsoundness, some of it of very familiar kinds, e.g. “when I’m absent” and “I have left” when “I” is the letter and demands “is” and “has” instead of “am” and “have”. Then there was “great head” for G—it can’t possibly mean “head of great”; similarly “latterly astute” and “leading top expert” will not do for TE—they don’t say what they mean. Even worse is “their discipline” to indicate an anagram of “their”. Two devices I don’t much like, because they are so vague—though they appear constantly in crosswords are (1) “many” to indicate M (or L, or C, or D?) and (2) “note” to indicate “te” (there are so many other possibilities); anyway, these are both, to me, far too dully familiar. Another thing that I don’t care for much (unless the word is very difficult to clue otherwise or the effect produced is of outstanding merit) is an anagram involving subtraction; there were a fair number of these, using e.g. “regiment” and “meeting”. But the efforts in general to write a clue with this cramping restriction were very successful; hence the long secondary list.
 
Very many thanks for lots of welcome Christmas cards, good wishes and appreciative comments about the puzzle. And a very happy New Year to you all.