Daily News from New York, New York • 216

r' ri At I WUDH CTAOCC ri fVC Cf TAH A IMnCPCWnFMPF flAY. DAY NES, TUEgDAY, JVLY Flies Off for Bundle From Briton From Combined Dispatches After a first-prize purse of potentially more than $200,000 was dangled before him, largely through the generosity of a chess-loving British millionaire, Bobby Fischer left by air last night for Iceland to attempt to wrest the world chess title from champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Paul Marshall, Fischer's attorney In New York, said the 29-year-old Brooklyn-born grandmaster had accepted investment banker James D. Slater's offer of $130,000 extra prize money and would be in Reykjavik by the deadline of noon today. Fischer stood to lose by forfeit if he failed to meet the deadline, which had been extended two days.

Of Slater's offer, Marshall quoted Fischer as saying: "I've got to take it. It's a stupendous offer." He said Fischer considered the gesture "incredible, generous and brave." In London, Slater, 43, said the money was offered because he understood Fischer Vas unhappy With the financial arrangement and the entire match was threatened. "The idea is to remove the problem of money from Fischer to see if he has any others," Slater said. Could Win 208G He said the organizers of the match could allocate the money as they saw fit. Slater made the offer after the organizers, the Icelandic Chess Federation, rejected a demand by Fischer for 30 of the gate receipts, a potentially considerable sum for both participants since the match could run two months.

Original terms called for the winner to get about $78,000 and the loser $47,000, plus 30 each of TV and photo sales income. Slater's donation could be used to increase the (Continued on page 6, col. 4) Associated Press Cablepholo James D. Slater Putt up $130,000 Bobby Fischer Headed for Iceland omnia' Heart- POD (For IFaiinni or Steve By JOSEPH FRIED Staff Correspondent of The News Phu Bai, South Vietnam, July 3 Leenie, the sweetheart of a former American marine, faced an age-old problem today: choosing between the man she loves and a cherished family. early today was hit with 14 enemy rockets and mortars, and barely an hour before Steve and Leenie put down, nearby Hue was hit for the second day in a row, this time with 31 rounds.

For all it deterred the two, they might just as well have been Fourth of July firecrackers. They Talk It Over Short on wheels, the couple thumbed a lift at Phu Bai from Army Maj. Bob Donnelly of Hackensack, N. who drove them four miles from the airport to Thai's house. Big brother was on a military assignment in nearby Hue, but he returned only minutes after they arrived.

Steve embraced Minh, whom he hadn't seen since he wrapped up his one-year stint here last July. Together, the three moved to the shade of a truck to talk things over. As Steve pleaded his case, Minh's three young sons played nearby, sometimes breaking off a game to get in on the proceedings. Minh's initial reaction to letting Lennie go so far away was reluctance. But he agreed to talk it over more throughly tonight at a family council.

Leenie lost her mother a year ago. With her father a Communist captive, brother Minh swings a lot of weight and his decision could tip the scales on whether Menta's storybook quest is concluded with an immediate happy ending or a "to be continued." "I'm optimistic," said Menta. "It will take a little convincing to get Leenie to come back with me now. A lot depends on her brother. She's very close to her family.

But most important, I'm (Continued on page 8, col. 3) Her big decision is whether to leave South Vietnam with Steve Menta, the 24-year-old New Yorker who flew halfway around the world to find her or to remain here for now and hope that her father, trapped in Communist-occupied Quang Tri, can escape or be liberated. Menta, who found his missing girl friend in a refugee camp near Da Nang yesterday, is leaving the final decision to Leenie, who is 21. But like any young man in love, he's hopeful that Lennie, whose real name is Thai Thi Thier, will return with him now to Jackson Heights, Queens, and a date at the altar. Today the couple flew from Da Nang to Phu Bai, 45 miles to the north, to talk things over with Leenie's brother, Thai Tang Minh, a 32-year-old Vietnamese sergeant.

The Phu Bai area NEWS photo by Lee Rudakewych via UPI Cablephoto Steve Menta and girl friend embrace at Da Nang refugee camp. For the Fourth in Fan Qtys Funthin hr Everyone By ELLEN FLEYSHER A New Oi leans jazz band leading a procession through the streets of lower and a knee-slapping hoedown in Battery Park are but part of the goodies for today's July 4 in Old New York stival the citys way to celebrate Inde- pendence Day. Meteorologist Raymond Sager of The News weather bureau gave the events his professional ap walking-tour guide booklets highlighting historical old New York sites will be handed out courtesy of the City Parks, Recreation and Cultural Administration and the National Park Service. For those who do not feel up to an afternoon stroll, several country music groups will perform at the Seaport until 5 p.m., and at the same time there will be dancing on John St. between Front and South.

Special Vesper Service Trinity Church, Broadway and Wall, will hold a special vesper hour at 4 p.m. with music and readings reflecting on the meaning of Independence Day. The Cars And Death Chicago, July 3 (Special) Traffic deaths rose tonight as the nation headed into the final day of the summer's first long holiday weekend. At a late hour in the July 4 holiday, the highway death toll stood at 486 dead. The National Safety Council estimated that between 800 and 900 persons would die in the holiday period extending from 6 p.m.

Friday to midnight tomorrow, when the holiday ends. The Police Department reported that six persons d'ed and 825 were injured in 545 accidents in the city between 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. yesterday. There were 921 accidents in the same period involving property damage only.

proval, predicting that showers would end before noon and clear skies would follow. Sager said the low 80s temperatures around noon would drop to a cool 75 by evening. Walking Tours and Music The opportunity to spend Independence Day outside under balmy skies undoubtedly comes as welcome relief to the staunch New Yorkers who made it through the wettest June on record rain fell 22 out of 30 days. Indeed, nothing was so rare as a dry day in June 1972. Leaving their umbrellas behind, holiday fun seekers can start off today at the South Street From 1 p.m.

on, 4 i Mi NEWS photo by Dan Farrell Kids have a flare for celebrating the Fourth. At 6 p.m., Harold Dejan and the Olympia Brass Band from New Orleans will lead a winding traditional July 4 bell ringing will conclude the service at 5 p.m. A brass fanfare from the balconies of the New York Exchange nearby will precede the 5:30 p.m. production of "The Roots of Revolution," a colonial period drama to be performed on the steps of Federal Hall. (Continued on page $, mot.

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