The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Friday, 4th April 2003 There are 14 across clues and 15 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Friday, 4th April 2003. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 8: Far from tender attending vessel in distress...HARDSHIPAAcross 9: ... a tender with hospital aboard, but not at seaASHOREAAcross 10: Fruit provided by Blake EdwardsAKEEAAcross 11: Novel piece of furniture, externally unadorned, with three middle drawersBARCHESTERAAcross 12: See 11TOWERSAAcross 14: Rash idea formulated by idiotsAIRHEADSAAcross 15: Wrong about Soviet lead, Bolshevik ultimately meeting untimely endTROTSKYAAcross 17: Insect taking cover, retreating from swallowBELIEVEAAcross 20: Effect reconciliation - or affect it?MAKEITUPAAcross 22: Venerable saint's taken outside with composer and dramatistAUGUSTAAcross 23: See 22STRINDBERGAAcross 24: Island of Jakarta's first ladyJAVAAAcross 25: Note smuggled into prison cited as evidenceQUOTEDAAcross 26: Get smart tree at universitySPRUCE UPDDown 1: Clandestine move for bad crookBACK DOORDDown 1: Clandestine move for bad crookBACKDOORDDown 2: Plugs, so to speak, for a shaverADZEDDown 3: Itinerant has second thoughts about moonPHOBOSDDown 4: Pole has to beat GreekSPARTANDDown 5: Veteran who rears in action?WARHORSEDDown 6: Teaching a lesson in front of class making rapid progressCHASTENINGDDown 7: Devil-dodger finally buried in "The Loved One"FRIENDDDown 13: New term is about those concerned not with means but with ends?EXTREMISTSDDown 16: What's missing from book title? Small insectsKATYDIDSDDown 18: Mount several to use up against one AmericanVESUVIUSDDown 19: Conciliate a parish priest with creature comfortsAPPEASEDDown 21: Start of play: letter from abroad about battleACTIUMDDown 22: Material that's new in marketplaceANGORADDown 24: Means of raising a flagJACK