IT is a far cry from the snows of Russia to tke sands of the Sahara, and as far a cry from the Sahara to the coasts of the British Isles. But experiments are now being made to see if a device originally designed for motor transport over the snows of Russia during the war, and then used with signal success for crossing the Sahara, will be equally effective for launching Life-boats on the coasts of Great Britain.

This device is the Kegresse track, a self-laying track of flexible rubber and canvas creeper bands, which may pos- sibly prove more effective on our coasts than the present tractors which, while they have carried out a number of very prompt launches, have shown that where there is shingle, mud holes or creeping sands, something more powerful is re- quired.

These facts lend additional interest to a matinee in aid of the funds of the Insti- tution which was given at the Victoria Palace on 21st November last, and which was itself probably unique in the long list of charity matinees in this country.

Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H.

the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, Patron of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, were both present, and this matinee, in aid of a great English charity, was given by a Frenchman, M. Citroen, head of the French firm of motor car manufacturers which bears his name, and the whole performance was by French artists.

At the beginning of 1922 an expedition of Citroi-n cars, fitted with the Kegresse track, travelled across the Sahara, from Touggourt to Timbuctoo, a distance of 2,000 miles, and back again. The Sahara had never before been crossed by automobiles, and the Citroen Expedition visited places which no one had ever reached before except on camels.

A film was taken of this journey, and it was shown for the first time in England at this matinee. The first time it had been shown in Paris it was also in aid of a great charity, " The Association for the Help oi the Widows of Soldiers killed in the Great War," the President of the Republic being present.

Two distinguished French artists came to London to sing at the matinee, M. Lucien Muratore, the tenor of the Paris Opera Hjouse, and Mile. Marthe Davelli, of the Opera House and the Opera-Comique. M. Jean Richepin, the poet, and a member of the Academie francaise, wrote a poem specially for the occasion' entitled " Pour la Paix," describing how, in exploration, the weapons of war, are being turned to the service of peace. This was to be have been recited by Mile. Cecile Sorel, the leading actress of the Comedie-Francaise, but at the last moment ill health prevented her from coming.

While the performance was given by French men and women, its organization was in the hands of a Committee of Life- boat workers, and among those who gave it their patronage were H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, H.R.H. the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice, His Excellency the French Ambassador, His Excellency the Belgian Ambassador, the Right Hon.

Stanley Bruce, M.C., Prime Minister of Australia, and Mrs. Bruce, the Duke and Duchess of Leeds, the Duchess of Port- land, the Duchess of Northumberland, the Dowager Marchionessof Queensberry, the Dowager Marchioness of Tweeddale, the Marchioness of Ailsa, the Marquess of Crewe, the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair, the Marchioness of Milf ord Haven, and the Earl and Coun- tess of Derby.

M. Citroen came from Paris to be present, and with him were the leaders of the Expedition, M. Haardt and M.

Audouin Dubreuil.

As the whole expenses of the matinee were borne by M. Citroen every penny of the proceeds, just under £1,000, went to the Institution's funds..