git-svn doesn't fetch an empty directory with svn:externals

Hi,

I'm running in a problem when trying to fetch a SVN repository branch that 
contains an empty directory with a SVN property svn:externals attached. This 
directory is missing in the Git repository/checkout. I was unable to find an 
option to have it added. I'd like to get it added to readd the externals using 
the trick described in http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/git/2007/5/1/245002. 
Without it, I have to recreate it in git, add it to .gitignore... which is 
painful.

BTW, I didn't find any documentation on empty dirs handling by git-svn. They 
seems to be often removed which is not always desirable. Are they options 
related to this?

Cheers,

Michel