1870: On the south side
of the city, hardly more than a mile from the enceinte, is a row of
forts, Ivry, Bicetre, Montrouge, Vanves and Issy, solidly
constructed works in themselves but, as was shown in
1870, nearly
useless for the defences of the city against rifled guns, as (with
the exception of Bicetre) they are overlooked by the plateau of
Chatillon. - Paris, France,
1911encyclopedia.