This crossword No. 22796 clues and answers were published on Fri 04 Apr 2003 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22796 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
8-across – Far from tender attending vessel in distress… : HARDSHIP
9-across – … a tender with hospital aboard, but not at sea : ASHORE
10-across – Fruit provided by Blake Edwards : AKEE
11-across – Novel piece of furniture, externally unadorned, with three middle drawers : BARCHESTER
12-across – See 11 : TOWERS
14-across – Rash idea formulated by idiots : AIRHEADS
15-across – Wrong about Soviet lead, Bolshevik ultimately meeting untimely end : TROTSKY
17-across – Insect taking cover, retreating from swallow : BELIEVE
20-across – Effect reconciliation – or affect it? : MAKEITUP
22-across – Venerable saint’s taken outside with composer and dramatist : AUGUST
23-across – See 22 : STRINDBERG
24-across – Island of Jakarta’s first lady : JAVA
25-across – Note smuggled into prison cited as evidence : QUOTED
26-across – Get smart tree at university : SPRUCEUP
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Clandestine move for bad crook : BACKDOOR
2-down – Plugs, so to speak, for a shaver : ADZE
3-down – Itinerant has second thoughts about moon : PHOBOS
4-down – Pole has to beat Greek : SPARTAN
5-down – Veteran who rears in action? : WARHORSE
6-down – Teaching a lesson in front of class making rapid progress : CHASTENING
7-down – Devil-dodger finally buried in The Loved One : FRIEND
13-down – New term is about those concerned not with means but with ends? : EXTREMISTS
16-down – What’s missing from book title? Small insects : KATYDIDS
18-down – Mount several to use up against one American : VESUVIUS
19-down – Conciliate a parish priest with creature comforts : APPEASE
21-down – Start of play: letter from abroad about battle : ACTIUM
22-down – Material that’s new in marketplace : ANGORA
24-down – Means of raising a flag : JACK
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.