No.11241, Saturday 15 Nov 14, The Phantom

Good stuff from The Phantom. Nice mix of difficulty in clues allowed the puzzle to be unravelled steadily. And good stories too. Especially liked OFFEND, CONTACT, SAFARI, INDIRECTLY, CONDUCT, AGENCIES and CHALLENGER.

ACROSS
8 Spring roll stuffed with egg and chocolate at both ends (6) BOUNCE [roll=BUN outside egg=0 + ChocolatE]
9 Musical instrument one’s finally able to arrange (8) ORGANISE [musical instrument=ORGAN + 1'S + ablE]
10 Eldest in group joined military … (8) ENLISTED [ELDEST IN]* group is anag ind?
11 … action uninitiated following new belief (6) NOTION [New + action=mOTION]
12 Displease by not working towards goal (6) OFFEND [not working=OFF + goal=END]
13 Clerk adopting imperial measure, not kilo, in deciding factor (8) CLINCHER [CLERk outside imperial measure=INCH]
15 Approach an argument against something with diplomacy (7) CONTACT [argument against something=CON + diplomacy=TACT]
17 Individual learns about one nameless West Asian (7) ISRAELI [individual=1 + LEARnS<- + one=1]
20 Place in gym that’s home for Monday’s games period? (8) PLAYTIME [place=LAY inside gym=PT + Monday inside that's = IE]
22 Officer — Chief of army decorated with star given by ruler (6) SULTAN [officer=LieutenanT + Army inside star=SUN] 
23 Trek a long way into the heart of Asia (6) SAFARI [a long way=AFAR inside aSIa]
25 Direct contact process is one in which inert gas combines with oxygen (3-2-3) ONE-ON-ONE [ONE outside inert gas=NEON + Oxygen]
26 Think trend is reversing in match? (8) MEDITATE [trend=TIDE<- inside match=MATE]
27 Cabbage in garden showing signs of decay (6) AGEING [T] is showing needed for the def too?

DOWN
1 Fellow caught in tornado shaking like a pendulum (2,3,3) TO AND FRO [Fellow inside TORNADO*]
2 Spread dirt nicely in a roundabout way (10) INDIRECTLY [DIRT NICELY]*

3 Divorcing wife, went to occupy flat for five years (6) PENTAD [wENT inside flat=PAD]
4 Study of French court’s administration (7) CONDUCT [study=CON + of French=DU + CourT]
5 Times retains nice well-organised offices (8) AGENCIES [times=AGES outside NICE*]
6 One wearing tunic that’s short (4) UNIT [TUNIc]*
7 Inclined to run after appeal’s rejected (6) ASLOPE [appeal=SA<- + run=LOPE]
14 Champion’s hold over inaugural race broken by new rival (10) CHALLENGER [CHampion + hold=ALLEGE + Race outside New]
16 Gangster caught, hauled up, hiding Indium often in den (8) CRIMINAL [Caught + den=LAIR outside iNdIuM <-]
18 Student’s receiving knowledge (8) LEARNING [student=L + receiving=EARNING] isn't L for student from Learner itself?
19 Girlfriend’s escaped quietly, disguised as Victor, following boy (7) BELOVED [Boy + escaped=ELOPED with Victor for quietly=P]
21 Foliage left over part of roof (6) LEAVES [Left + part of roof=EAVES]
22 Notice put up, was for a children’s plaything (6) SEESAW [notice=SEE + WAS<-]

24 Detectives trailing a tart (4) ACID [A + detectives=CID]