Very dispiriting when not only can't you solve them but you can't follow the answers!
Please parse:-
For that reason part of the army's in reserve . Ans Thereby. I assume re is part of the army but can't see how you get theby.
Cut free. Ans Gash . Can't see how gash=free. (Dictionaries come up with cut or a word more appropriate to the Viz crossword!)
Laborious task to deal with -changing fillings for fancy cake? Ans Sweetmeat. I think sweat is the laborious task but can't get the etme bit.
Thanks
Thanks -Isn't the laborious task clue a "forbidden" indirect anagram clue? You have to guess that to deal with =meet and then make an anagram out of that?