> I'm rather new to linux (Debian-based Libranet 2.7), and
> used apt-get install webhttrack. Nothing went wrong 
apparently.

Please use the current "unstable" package - the one in 
testing is broken (and apparently something is wrong with 
the autobuilders, because the unstable package has not 
entered testing)

Ensure this line is in your /etc/apt/sources.list file: (or 
any other sid mirror)

deb <http://http.us.debian.org/debian> sid main contrib non-
free

And then,
apt-get update
apt-get install webhttrack

>NB: It'd be nice if instructions for nitwits like me were
>included somewhere on the site as to how to compile or
>configure the app from the tar.gz file when apt-get fails 
to
>do the job.

Generally builds are totally standards - in this case:

tar xvfz httrack-*.tar.gz
cd httrack-*
./configure && make && su -c 'make install'