apt-get doesn't follow dependencies

[David Garamond <lists@zara.6.isreserved.com>]

I tried doing a fresh Sarge install from 25-Jan-2005 Sarge CD ISO. The 
resulting apt-get behaves strangely; it doesn't follow dependencies 
automatically (i.e., when I want to install package P and it depends on 
Q, apt-get doesn't download & install Q but instead exit with error). 
How do I configure apt-get to behave like it usually does?

--
dave