Can't send e-mail via `smtpmail'

[Alexander Shukaev]

Hello,

I have the following configuration for `smtpmail':

(setq smtpmail-auth-credentials "~/.authinfo.gpg")

(setq message-send-mail-function 'smtpmail-send-it
      smtpmail-smtp-server "xxx.xxx.xxx"
      smtpmail-smtp-service 587)

plus corresponding 'authinfor.gpg'.  When I send e-mail via `gnus', I
keep getting:

network-stream-open-starttls: make client process failed: Connection
timed out, :name, smtpmail, :buffer, *trace of SMTP session to
xxx.xxx.xxx*, :host, xxx.xxx.xxx, :service, 587

I would love to find out why and how to fix this.  Many thanks to
everyone who assists.

Regards,
Alexander