◀  No. 868 Clue list 3 Oct 1965 Slip image No. 878  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 873

VETERANS

1.  S. L. Paton (Nuneaton): Some of us could use Martinis—pass the gin up (vet + snare (rev.); M. = rifles).

2.  R. Postill (Jersey): Old soldiers? If you mean empty bottles … no! Doctor’s given up gin (vet + snare (rev.)).

3.  A. Lawrie (Cheltenham): Ernest and Virginia have got spliced; they’ve had a long engagement (anag. incl. Va).

V.H.C.

J. C. Brash (Edinburgh): They can no longer get to the front yet try to catch up (vet + snare (rev.)).

A. R. Chandler (Preston): We’ve enough experience to check mounting temptation (vet + snare (rev.)).

P. R. Clemow (W5): Gin and French swallowed up immediately after five? Some of them might have ordered early Martinis (V + et in snare (all rev.); M. = rifles).

L. E. Eyres (York): Old soldiers, or perhaps airmen, or possibly even tars (anag.).

P. H. Freeman (Shrewsbury): Never sat tight? On the contrary, they always did (anag.).

N. L. Hindley (W11): Even “Rats” may become experienced campaigners (anag.; cf. Desert R.).

R. E. Kimmons (Kettering): Flitting revenants with disembodied heart are said to be immortal! (anag. of reve(n)ants; “Old soldiers never die...”).

A. A. Malcolm (Perth): For wearers of crowns they were staunch, and never sat uneasily (anag.; cf. “Uneasy lies…”).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): Those who never die incredibly never sat in a mess (anag.; “incredibly” working in two ways; “Old soldiers never die...”).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): These may recall five years abroad, including that summer in Paris with the end of Hitler (été + r, all in V ans, & lit.).

M. Newman (Hove): Vehicles to get wrapped around tree in crash? Let’s hope not, when we compete next month (anag. in vans; ref. London–Brighton veteran car rally).

Mrs N. Perry (Eastbourne): The old regulars catch up after endless prohibition (vet(o) + snare (rev.)).

G. Perry (Newcastle, Staffs): E. g. X’s older solvers star even with Carte Blanche (anag.; C.B. = freedom and ref. title of puzzle).

F. B. Ramsey (Barnham): You need experienced troops against big guns flanked by giants (v. + RA in etens).

G. Snowden-Davies (Wolverhampton): What one must do to one’s clues to catch up with the experienced competitors? (vet + snare (rev.)).

P. H. Taylor (Newbold-on-Stour): The even-star becomes them (anag. & lit.; twilight years).

Rev C. D. Westbrook (Cardiff): Old men-of-war making even tars out of sorts! (anag.).

Mrs M. Wishart (Whitley Bay): Old warhorses can be put into condition and then spring up (vet + snare (rev.); spring = springe).

H.C.

T. Anderson, C. Allen Baker, J. W. Bates, Sir T. Brinton, Rev C. M. Broun, W. T. Clift, D. L. W. Collins, J. Crowther, T. Davies, N. C. Dexter, W. Eite, J. C. Farman, H. W. Flewett, M. S. Y. Fowler, A. L. Freeman, K. Gibson, S. Goldie, E. J. Griew, Lady Harington, D. Hawson, S. Holgate, L. W. Jenkinson, L. Johnson, G. Johnstone, J. H. C. Leach, L. F. Leason, A. F. Lerrigo, Mrs B. Lewis, J. D. H. Mackintosh, Dr T. J. R. Maguire, Mrs E. McFee, C. J. Morse, S. R. Parsons, W. H. Pegram, R. V. Penycate, T. E. Sanders, Mrs E. M. Simmonds, W. K. M. Slimmings, C. M. Tatham, K. I. Torrance, A. Turner, M. A. Vernon, G. H. Willett, S. E. Wilson.
 

COMMENTS:—About 270 entries for what is always a difficult assignment, about 225 correct: the only common mistake was “withe” for WITHY—“the way to finish off a boy” is surely “with Y.” Let me at once apologise for my careless mistake in the instructions about “two proper names,” which worried many solvers. I foolishly gave to the printers the instruction “Introd. as for No. 823,” the last “Carte Blanche,” without cancelling the reference to two proper names which applied there: quite inexcusable—I’m sorry. One or two people thought BLEWART must be one of them: actually it is in C., Out of its proper place, under BLAWORT. It is always a nuisance when this happens, so I gave a broad hint of it in the clue; but it was still elusive.
 
I thought the clues a little below our highest standard except for the first prizewinner’s, which stands out (to me) a long way: so I overlooked the fact that I have no certain knowledge that Martini-Henry rifles can be called Martinis for short: it seems, at least, very probable. Mr. Clemow used the same idea but not so neatly. The “A.T.S.-never” anagram was too terribly popular, and no use of it stood out far enough to get into the quoted lists: “vet-snare” was also much used, but that lends itself to more variety of treatment. There was a lot of unsoundness caused by “knocking gin back” in a “down” word. I have referred in slips very many times to the fact that reversals in “across” words go back, in “down” words go up. I never pass a clue which disregards this: it is a mere matter of fact.
 
There was one (to me) amusing unintentional trap, the fact that the last two “down” words both ended in -LY. So far was I from being diabolically cunning that I hadn’t even noticed it, but I can well see how it could mislead the solver. I’m glad appreciative notes show that this complication is enjoyed at intervals: it has for me the merit that it makes things difficult for you but not for me!
 
Finally I must mention an amusing personal reference in a clue not distinguished enough for a mention—“Old soldiers winners of a D.S.M. award, perhaps.”
 

 
Ximenes Slips by year
19451946194719481949
19501951195219531954
19551956195719581959
19601961196219631964
19651966196719681969
19701971