The Times August 1947

[LottieAnne]

Help needed, as usual!
5ac It makes a trail (6) 4th letter i
6d They sound like arsenals (10) - - e - - - u - - -
8d His work requires some beating (8) - - r - - - e -
2d Friendly race meeting (6,2,7) - - m - t - /of /nations (I think I must have something wrong in the first word)
19ac They might have some difficulty in toeing the line (7) - i - - - n -.
Any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks.

[ladyalex]

5a LARIAT ??anagram of a trail

[shaneystar2]

2d League of nations ?

[ladyalex]

2d COMITY of nations would fit your letters

8d Do you think it could be CARPETER if such a word exists as in one who provides carpets ???

[shaneystar2]

8d Thresher ?

[LottieAnne]

Thank you. Lariat and thresher fit together and Comity fits with my other letters and is in Chambers. 6d now begins with a.
12ac would help One wouldn't long survive like this (10)
- r - - - - - e - s
Any ideas?

[ladyalex]

12a breathless ??

[Rapparee]

Could 6d be possibly almshouses?

[LottieAnne]

Thank you very much. Breathless and almshouses certainly fit with some of the other letters. I might be able to finish it now except for one clue of which I can make no sense
13d Alongships (4,3,3) - o - e / - n - / a - -
Does anyone have any ideas about this, please?

[squarebear]

alongships is "fore and aft". It's a nautical term.

[LottieAnne]

Thank you. I would never have got that and alongships does not appear in any of my dictionaries. Live and learn!