American Notes Hostages

William Mathers, an American yachtsman and businessman who lived in Singapore, was sailing from that city to Hong Kong last July when his 80-ft. schooner was seized by armed Vietnamese. Mathers, 41, and his companions--two Frenchwomen, the two sons of one of them, and an Australian engineering student--were taken into custody for allegedly crossing into Viet Nam's territorial waters. While his friends were allowed to go free last fall, Mathers was charged with spying and held for almost nine months in solitary confinement.

Mathers estimates that he was interrogated more than 50 times during his captivity. The Vietnamese accused him of mapping their coast and of gathering intelligence for hostile powers. Two weeks ago he was given a choice of becoming a spy for Viet Nam or being sentenced to up to five years in prison. Mathers refused the spying assignment. "I assumed I was on my way to prison." But the next day the Vietnamese told him he would be set free, and last week he was finally released.