Attempting to use multistrap in native mode

I'm attempting to follow these references:
   https://wiki.debian.org/Multistrap
   https://wiki.debian.org/MultistrapManPage
 
http://manpages.debian.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=multistrap&sektion=1

Everything seems well until dying with following error message:
      ERR: ./bin/sh symbolic link does not exist.
      No shell in /media/test1/. at /usr/sbin/multistrap line 599.

That was the result using Squeeze. I also tried Wheezy,only 
apparent difference was the referenced line number.

Complete details were posted to
https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2014/09/msg00079.html

I'm new enough to Linux that I am missing something thought to be 
obvious.
Suggestions please.