France.—The Automobile Club de France, which was founded in 1895, is not only the oldest of automobile clubs, but it is also the largest and the most influential. Its headquarters in the Place de la Concorde, Paris, are on perhaps the finest site in Europe, and are quite palatial in fact, they constitute one 'of the handsomest club-houses in the world. An elegant private theatre, a spacious garage and pleasant roof-gardens are among the special features of the establishment. The French Club has two honorary presidents, M Marcel Deprez and M. Georges Berger. The active president is the Baron de Zuylen de Nyevelt de Haar, who has ever been foremost in furthering the interests of the Club and of automobilism generally. The vice-presidents are the Marquis de Dion and M. Henri Menier. Other officers are as follows: technical secretary, the Comte de la Vallette; treasurer, M. André Lehideux-Vernimmen; members of the administrative council, MM. Abel Ballif, Comte de Chasseloup-Laubat, Edmond Récopé, and Gustave Rives; secretary, M. Chas. Ward. The annual subscription is 200 francs, and there are over "two thousand members. Visiting members of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland may avail themselves of certain privileges of the club-house in the Place de la Concorde for a period of four days on producing a special card of introduction from their own Club. With regard to the organising and propagandist work of the Automobile Club de France, it may be said that this has chiefly been confined to the promotion of races, the results of which have exerted a widespread and potent influence in demonstrating the capabilities of the motor vehicle. The races held under the immediate direction of the Club have been as follows: 1896, Paris-Marseilles-Paris; 1898, Paris-Amsterdam; 1900, ParisLyons (Gordon-Bennett Cup), Paris-Toulouse; 1901, ParisBordeaux (Gordon-Bennett Cup), and Paris-Berlin. The other French races, referred to in the remarks in the Appendix (p. 402) on 'Races and Trials,' have been arranged by other clubs or various journals. The Automobile Club de France has also held
