General sent back small marine creatures (4)

I believe the answer is:

eels

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'marine creatures' is the definition.
'eels' can be an answer for 'creatures' (I have seen 'Slippery creatures' mean 'eels' so perhaps 'creatures' could also mean 'eels'). I am not certain of the 'marine' bit.

'general sent back small' is the wordplay.
'general' becomes 'lee' (Robert E. Lee - US revolutionary commander).
'sent back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'lee' back-to-front is 'eel'.
'eel'+'s'='EELS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eels that I've seen before include "Jellied --, traditional dish" , "Smooth fishes" , "Anguillae" , "Elongated fish" , "Odd fish found in the lees" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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