No 13992, Wednesday 11 Oct 2023, KrisKross

Solution to 15D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   At war, armies to liquidate gradually (8) AMORTISE*

5   Laughs at hogs (6) SCOFFS [DD]

9 & 24 Deep silence broken by a baby's cry? (8,5) PREGNANT PAUSE [C&DD]

10 Disturbed sleep made son angry (6) SNORED {SON*}{RED}

12 Students are yet unfortunately controlled by mobile phones (9) NEOPHYTES {YET}* in {PHONES}*

13 America getting endless praise about stock (5) USUAL {US}{LAUd<=}

14 Some score well, countering pitcher (4) EWER [T<=]

16 Live in Polish pub? That's illegal (7) SHEBEEN {SHE{BE}EN}

19 In summary, incredible cycling by veteran (3,4) ALL TOLD {(-t)ALL(+t)T}{OLD}

21 Infection with sediment around the edges, eye not opening (4) STYE {Se...nT}{eYE}

24 See 9

25 Minor criminal, once arrested by head of Scotland Yard perhaps (9) SECONDARY {Sc...d}{ONCE*}{YARD*}

27 After one, neither partner hosts party within the building (6) INDOOR {1}{N{DO}OR}

28 Picked up two presents to get words of approval (4,4) HEAR HEAR (~ here here)

29 With no money finally, one longing to become a salaried worker (6) EARNER yEARNER

30 Head spinning… boring date surprisingly said "Yes"! (8) ASSENTED {NESS<=} in {DATE}*

DOWN

1   Software program to terminate and hang (6) APPEND {APP}{END}

2   Frisky colt - one extremely dangerous animal (6) OCELOT {COLT+OnE}*

3   Fish caught inside, then freed (5) TENCH {TEN{C}H*}

4   Address of man in Madrid hiding a tense politician (7) SENATOR {SEN{A}{T}OR}

6   Silly nut overwhelmed by pretty rude remark (9) CONTUMELY {CO{NUT*}MELY}

7   Lots turn violent, surrounded by enemies (8) FORTUNES {FO{TURN*}ES}

8   Ignore function outside cafeteria (8) SIDELINE {SI{DELI}NE}

11 Snakes like empty pits (4) ASPS {AS}{PitS}

15 Spooner says "Only sing to be healthy" (9) W?O?E?O?E (Addendum - WHOLESOME (~ sole hum to wholesome - See comments)

17 Perhaps I sculpted a stone (8) SAPPHIRE*

18 Father catching large fish (8) FLOUNDER {F{L}OUNDER}

20 Daughter remains in race (4) DASH {D}{ASH}

21 For the most part, that kind of tax results in prosperity (7) SUCCESS {SUCh}{CESS}

22 Warning: "Vacate compound!" (6) CAVEAT*

23 Mongrel seen in lengthy bridge (6) HYBRID [T]

26 Cheek, or another part of the body (5) NERVE [DD]

Reference List

Party = DO, Caught = C, Tense = T, Large = L, Daughter = D