This crossword No. 22605 clues and answers were published on Thu 22 Aug 2002 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22605 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Crew in a fight, possibly giving employment in the Blitz : FIREWATCHING
8-across – Tiny lad cast in stone? That’s the best one can hope for : OPTIMAL
9-across – Goddess using force to feed animals : DEMETER
11-across – English woods producing fiddlesticks! : EYEWASH
12-across – A stein brought round after the last of the summer wine : RETSINA
13-across – To take a king away, duke must also be carried : TOTED
14-across – Ready for war in pits? : UNDERARMS
16-across – Conductor and professor wouldn”t stop talking : RATTLEDON
19-across – A light neither fore nor aft : ABEAM
21-across – Profane love at one remove : VIOLATE
23-across – Four or six in rehearsal? That’s not important : TRIVIAL
24-across – Engaged in daring activities, like bonsai? : STUNTED
25-across – Like Sappho, born in an isle abroad : LESBIAN
26-across – Trees oft hewn in Hants? : THENEWFOREST
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Most suitable match for survivors? : FITTEST
2-down – Poet having the edge when it comes to speed of transmission : RIMBAUD
3-down – A dog that’s large, beginning to fill house, gets turned out : WOLFHOUND
4-down – In Versailles you stick up for the royal family : TUDOR
5-down – Writing concealed by heart-rending creature in a cage : HAMSTER
6-down – Like a professor in the cinema, but more so? Teachers bank on it : NUTTIER
7-down – What resurrectionists do about Queen Margaret’s last poet : ROBERTGRAVES
10-down – Getting together again – like outside, like inside : REASSEMBLING
15-down – Verdi’s fourth opera about an upstanding sculptor : DONATELLO
17-down – Spooner’s low bit is over the top : TOOMUCH
18-down – Pressurised nitrogen stored under shed : LEANTON
19-down – A paper product in dispute : ATISSUE
20-down – No democrat wants one’s title changed : ELITIST
22-down – Provide for party in various ways, as does the sparrow or the crow : ENDOW
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.